Following initial backlash and a government probe, the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) and Rockstar Games clashed at a preliminary tribunal hearing this week over the November 2025 dismissal of 31 unionizing GTA 6 developers. The IWGB seeks interim financial relief for the workers, alleging unlawful union-busting, while Rockstar maintains the firings were due to confidentiality breaches.
This week's preliminary hearing marks a key escalation in the ongoing dispute over Rockstar's abrupt dismissal of 34 staff members—including 31 UK-based IWGB members—in November 2025. As covered in prior reports, the company cited gross misconduct for sharing confidential GTA 6 details on an insecure public Discord channel, sparking protests, employee demands for reinstatement, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's call for a ministerial investigation.
The IWGB is now pushing for interim relief to provide financial support to the affected workers until a full tribunal hearing, highlighting hardships like lost income and residency risks. "This case is not just about the suffering of the 31 people who lost their livelihoods... This is about the arrogance of a company like Rockstar," the union told IGN, reiterating claims of illegal union-busting.
Rockstar pushed back, stating to IGN: "This was never about union membership. We have always taken a zero-tolerance approach to unauthorised releases of information." The firm regrets the action but stresses its necessity to protect projects under global scrutiny.
The clash underscores persistent tensions in gaming between labor organizing and data security, with a substantive hearing pending.
