The dismissal of 31 Rockstar Games employees has escalated to the UK Parliament, where MP Christine Jardine urged ministers to support the affected workers and prevent future incidents. The firings, which Rockstar attributes to gross misconduct involving leaked confidential information, are alleged by the workers to be retaliation for unionization efforts. Over 200 current employees have signed a letter demanding reinstatement amid ongoing protests and legal action.
Background on the Firings
In late October 2025, Rockstar Games terminated 31 employees across its UK studios, including Rockstar North in Edinburgh, and one office in Canada. The company cited 'gross misconduct' as the reason, specifically accusing the staff of sharing confidential information outside the company, such as in union Discord channels. However, the fired workers, all members of the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB), claim the dismissals were a response to their attempts to form The Rockstar Games Workers Union to improve working conditions ahead of Grand Theft Auto 6's development.
Employee Response and Protests
Over 200 employees at Rockstar North signed an open letter to management demanding the immediate reinstatement of their colleagues. The letter condemns the firings as 'union busting' and has garnered support through protests outside Rockstar and parent company Take-Two Interactive offices in London and Edinburgh earlier in November 2025. Additional demonstrations are scheduled for London, Edinburgh, and Paris later in the month.
An anonymous fired employee stated in an IWGB press release: 'It's heartwarming to see so many of our colleagues supporting us and holding management to account—during a period where Rockstar want us to feel scared, my brave former colleagues are marching straight up to our boss’s door and demanding our voices are heard and not backing down. It's clear to everyone close to this situation that this is a blatant, unapologetic act of vicious union busting.'
IWGB organizer Fred Carter added: 'By deciding to fire more than 30 union members, Rockstar have carried out an Amazon-style act of union-busting unprecedented in the games industry.' The union has filed legal claims against Rockstar, potentially leading to a court battle.
Parliamentary Involvement
On November 13, 2025, Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine raised the issue in the House of Commons, noting that several of her Edinburgh West constituents were affected. She declared an interest due to an unaffected employee relative and requested a meeting with ministers to discuss support for the workers. Jardine posted: 'Video game giant Rockstar has sacked more than 30 workers across the UK, including my constituents working at their Edinburgh office. I urged Ministers to support workers who have lost their jobs, and stop this from happening again.'
The situation unfolds amid Rockstar's recent announcement delaying Grand Theft Auto 6 to November 19, 2026, for additional polish, though this is separate from the labor dispute.