Grand Theft Auto workers seek union recognition after mass firings

The makers of Grand Theft Auto are attempting to gain official union recognition after mass sackings last year.

Video game designers and other employees at Rockstar Games are working with the IWGB Game Workers Union to try to secure unionisation before the release of GTA VI scheduled for November.

It is expected to be one of the bestselling games of all time and when pre-orders opened last week it reportedly generated $3bn (£2.27bn).

The move for unionisation could make Rockstar the second UK games studio with a recognised union. ZA/UM became the first to agree recognition in October 2025.

If the plans succeed, workers would secure formal channels for collective bargaining with management, while union representatives and members would gain additional workplace protections and rights.

Rockstar was accused of “union busting” last year after the dismissal of 31 union members in October. The IWGB is challenging the dismissals through an employment tribunal, with a final hearing scheduled to begin in September, where it will be decided whether workers were unlawfully fired for trade union activity.

The company said at the time that workers were fired for sharing confidential information, including specific game features from upcoming titles, in a public forum.

Jordan Garland, one of the employees who was let go, had worked at the company for 11 years. He said: “We hope Rockstar voluntarily recognises the union; we are inviting Rockstar to meet us and make it a celebration of people who make the games possible.”

He said the move to unionisation was to “ensure this sort of thing [the sackings] never happens again, not just at Rockstar but anywhere in the industry.”

The video games industry was very “layoff intensive” he added, saying this was due to “greed”.

“There have been many large acquisitions of smaller studios by big companies, who have so called ‘streamlined’ things,” he said. “It is the state of the industry and it seems to be getting worse as fewer studios are independent.”

The millions of people who play and enjoy video games often do not think of the workers who create them, he added. “Partly that is down to how the games are marketed and sold to consumers, the people who make them are not necessarily part of the conversation or the marketing.”

It is understood that if the voluntary route is not taken, more organising will happen to ensure the union is recognised, and this could include a strike.

Shanti Easton-Steel, the production coordinator at Rockstar North, the developer’s Edinburgh office, said: “It’s thanks to the hard work of so many of our members – both those currently with us and those who were fired last October – that we are now in a strong enough position to pursue formal recognition.

Rockstar has been contacted for comment. Referring to the dismissals, the company previously said in a statement: “Rockstar Games took action against a small group of individuals, across the UK and internationally, who distributed and discussed confidential information (including specific game features from upcoming and unannounced titles) in a public forum, in breach of company policy and their legal obligations. Claims that these dismissals were linked to union membership or activities are entirely false and misleading.”

Alex Marshall, the president of the IWGB, said: “Many people assumed that Rockstar dismissing 31 union members last year would weaken organising at the company – but in fact the union is now stronger than ever. GTA VI has reportedly already generated more than $3bn in preorder sales. Rockstar bosses can easily afford to sit around the table with the people whose hard work created these games, and give them a meaningful voice in their workplace.”