Full Breakdown
Rockstar Games faces tribunal over alleged union-targeted dismissals
By Drooid · · How we work
The tribunal case
Former Rockstar North staff allege they were dismissed in October 2025 for participating in union activity after signing a 2023 petition on remote working. Thirty-one employees are pursuing claims at the Glasgow Employment Tribunal. Rockstar Games maintains the dismissals were for “gross misconduct” after confidential Grand Theft Auto VI information was shared on a Discord channel. The hearing, overseen by Judge Lucy Wiseman, is expected to run until 16 October 2025.
Background & Context
The dispute stems from a spring-2023 petition by 154 Rockstar employees requesting a return-to-office policy. The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) represents the claimants, arguing the petition triggered a “watch list” of union-active staff. Rockstar’s development of Grand Theft Auto VI – projected to generate more than $3 billion in pre-orders and slated for release on 19 November 2026 – has been accompanied by a strict “zero-tolerance” policy on leaks. The company cites a 2025 leak that briefly erased $2 billion from parent Take-Two’s market value.
Timeline
- Spring 2023 – Remote-working petition delivered.
- February 2024 – Union alleges monitoring of the IWGB Discord server.
- 30 October 2025 – Dismissals of 34 staff (31 in the UK, 3 in Canada).
- October 2025 – Employment tribunal opens in Glasgow.
- 16 October 2025 (scheduled) – Tribunal proceedings expected to conclude.
Data & Statistics
- 34 total dismissals; 31 in the United Kingdom.
- 23 claimants are actively before the tribunal.
- The petition was signed by 154 staff; 141 of those signatories remain employed.
- Pre-order revenue for GTA VI exceeds $3 billion (£2.27 billion).
Official Statements & Responses
- IWGB president Alex Marshall: The union seeks reinstatement, compensation, and formal recognition of the workplace union before the game’s launch, warning that allowing such dismissals would set a dangerous precedent for UK workers.
- Former employee Dayne Oram testified that the company “kept an eye” on a small group of union members after the petition, describing the practice as the start of a “watch list”.
Criticism & Opposition
The IWGB contends that Rockstar’s dismissals were unlawful, lacking any disciplinary process or right of appeal. Union representatives describe the terminations as a “decimation” of the organising cadre, alleging that employees were escorted from the Edinburgh office with pre-written dismissal letters and that one dismissed worker, Will Mesilane, was forced to leave the UK after his work visa was withdrawn. The union argues that the Discord channel was private, invite-only, and used solely for union matters, contrasting with Rockstar’s claim that the server was open to competitors and journalists.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Watch-list claim: Oram links the petition to firings, while Rockstar counsel Thomas Cordrey highlighted that 141 of 154 petition signatories remained employed, questioning the causal link.
- Discord privacy: Rockstar describes the channel as a public forum where confidential leaks occurred; the IWGB maintains it was a restricted, verified space for union discussion. No independent verification has been presented.
- Number of affected staff: Sources report 34 total dismissals, but only 31 are part of the tribunal, leaving three Canadian workers outside the legal proceedings.
What’s Next
The tribunal will continue hearing evidence and cross-examination until the scheduled deadline of 16 October 2025. Parallel negotiations between Rockstar and the IWGB aim to secure formal union recognition before the 19 November 2026 launch of Grand Theft Auto VI. The outcome will determine whether the dismissals are deemed unlawful and could set a precedent for union rights within the UK video-game industry.