Union brands Rockstar's leak claim "a distraction" as protests hit Take-Two London

Rockstar Games denies claims that it fired several employees over their union activity, insisting that it sacked the team members for leaking confidential information.

In a statement to Bloomberg, the Grand Theft Auto developer said: "Last week, we took action against a small number of individuals who were found to be distributing and discussing confidential information in a public forum, a violation of our company policies. This was in no way related to people's right to join a union or engage in union activities."

The clarification follows mounting criticism from the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB), which represents members of the recently formed Game Workers branch at Rockstar. The union accused the studio of "union busting" after more than 30 coders and graphic designers were dismissed last week, reportedly for participating in a private Discord server used to discuss organizing efforts.

Alex Marshall, president of the IWGB, rejected Rockstar's explanation in a statement sent to The Register, accusing the company of trying to "deflect from the real reason for these dismissals."

"Rockstar continues to deflect from the real reason for these dismissals: they are afraid of hard-working staff privately discussing exercising their rights for a fairer workplace and a collective voice," Marshall said. "Management are showing they don't care about delays to GTA VI, and that they're prioritizing union busting by targeting the very people who make the game."

Marshall went on to accuse Rockstar of hypocrisy, noting that "in recent years, Rockstar executives have benefited from £443 million in tax relief, while showing total disregard for the law or the livelihoods of their staff. At every turn, they've chosen profits over both workers and fans of their games. The only non-Rockstar employees in the union Discord channel were union organizers."

The IWGB staged a protest on Thursday morning outside the London offices of Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar's parent company, as tensions escalated between the company and its workforce. Protesters carried banners and called for the reinstatement of dismissed employees and for recognition of the Game Workers Union.

"This morning's protest saw so many people from across the games sector and beyond stand up in defiance against this disgusting attempt to crush worker unity," Marshall said. "We want to assure Take-Two and Rockstar that today's action was only just the start."

A source familiar with the situation told The Register that the Discord server in question had been fully backed up and handed to the union's barrister for review, and said they are confident that nothing game-related was revealed on that Discord server.

The firings come at a sensitive time for Rockstar, which is reportedly in the final stages of development for Grand Theft Auto VI, one of the most anticipated video games of the decade. Internal leaks in recent years have already exposed large portions of early gameplay footage, prompting the company to tighten its information-security controls.

In its statement, Rockstar did not specify what "confidential information" the dismissed employees were accused of sharing.

The IWGB's Game Workers branch formed in 2021 to represent employees across the UK games industry, advocating for better pay, working hours, and protections against so-called "crunch" culture - the long overtime periods that often accompany major game releases.

Rockstar, long known for its demanding production cycles and secretive corporate culture, has faced scrutiny over labor conditions in the past. In 2018, the studio drew criticism after senior executives boasted of 100-hour work weeks during the development of Red Dead Redemption 2, prompting internal reforms and promises of a healthier work environment.

The latest dispute now threatens to reopen old wounds just as Rockstar prepares its next blockbuster. While the company insists the firings were about security, not unionization, the IWGB says it's ready to escalate the fight.

"If they plan to dig their heels in on the most egregious union busting the sector's ever seen, then they can get used to seeing us on their doorstep - we will not stop coming back until we get justice for these workers," Marshall said. ®