Full Breakdown
Rockstar Games Faces UK Employment Tribunal Over Dismissal of GTA VI Developers
By Drooid · · How we work
The Tribunal and Allegations
Take-Two Interactive and its studio Rockstar Games are before an employment tribunal in Glasgow, Scotland, over the termination of 31 developers who had been working on *Grand Theft Auto VI*. The workers are represented by the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB). The union alleges that the dismissals were an unlawful purge aimed at staff who discussed unionisation on a private Discord server. Rockstar contends the employees were removed for “gross misconduct” involving the sharing of confidential company information.
Background and Timeline
- October 30 2025 – Former Rockstar developer Rachel Crawford says she was dismissed without warning.
- September 10 2026 – A rally outside the Glasgow Tribunal Centre, captured in a video posted by IWGB co-founder Austin Kelmore, marked the opening of the final hearing.
- Five-week hearing – The tribunal is scheduled to run for five weeks, concluding close to the planned release of *GTA VI* on November 19 2026.
Official Statements & Responses
- Rockstar Games maintains that each of the 31 terminations resulted from legitimate misconduct, specifically the alleged leakage of confidential material.
- IWGB argues the dismissals constitute unfair labour practice and seeks reinstatement or compensation, as well as a tribunal finding that the firings were unlawful.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the case as “deeply concerning” during a parliamentary debate, underscoring the issue’s prominence in the United Kingdom.
Data & Statistics
- 31 employees have been terminated and are now party to the tribunal.
- The hearing’s five-week duration aligns with the lead-up to the game’s November 19 launch, heightening public and industry attention.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The modern workplace runs on fear: fear of speaking out, fear of being punished, fear of being fired, losing your livelihood and even your home,” — Rachel Crawford
The tribunal will determine whether the dismissals breached UK employment law or were justified under Rockstar’s misconduct policy, a decision that could influence future union activity within the video-game sector.