A UK employment tribunal has rejected a request for interim relief from over 30 former Rockstar Games developers fired last October. The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB), representing the affected staff, described Rockstar's defense as having 'flimsy grounds' and remains confident in its unfair dismissal claim. Rockstar welcomed the ruling and stands by its decision to dismiss the employees for alleged gross misconduct.
The ongoing dispute between Rockstar Games, the studio behind Grand Theft Auto 6, and more than 30 former developers escalated when a Glasgow Employment Tribunal denied interim relief on January 12, 2026. The workers, dismissed in October 2025, sought temporary financial support pending a full hearing on their unfair dismissal claims. The IWGB, which filed the legal action shortly after the firings, argued that the dismissals constituted union-busting, as all affected individuals were union members.
The union highlighted procedural lapses in Rockstar's process, including the absence of disciplinary meetings, delayed appeal opportunities—available only six weeks later—and a lack of any investigation. They also accused the company of covertly monitoring a private union Discord server to obtain comments used against the employees. The IWGB noted that server members, including union officials and recent ex-employees, were still bound by non-disclosure agreements. In her ruling, the judge stated: 'There was no evidence of the respondent having suffered any adverse consequences as a result of these postings.'
Despite the setback, the IWGB expressed optimism. 'We are emerging from this hearing, having now had a glimpse of Rockstar's flimsy grounds for defence, feeling bolstered in our claims that these firings were not just deeply unjust but also plainly unlawful,' the union said in a statement. IWGB president Alex Marshall added that the group is 'more confident than ever that a full and substantive tribunal will find Rockstar's calculated attempt to crush a union to be not only unjust but unlawful.'
An anonymous former employee called the decision a 'gut-punch' that has forced some to leave the UK, upending families, but vowed to continue fighting for justice. Rockstar responded: 'We welcome the decision, which is consistent with Rockstar's position throughout. We regret that we were put in a position where dismissals were necessary, but we stand by our course of action as supported by the outcome of this hearing.'
Support for the fired workers extends beyond the union; over 200 current Rockstar employees signed a letter condemning the actions. The issue reached the UK Parliament in 2025, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer describing the dismissals as 'deeply concerning' and directing ministers to investigate further.
