Take-Two Interactive Software’s Rockstar Games has fired between 30 and 40 employees across UK and Canadian offices in what the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) claims was an attempt to prevent unionisation, though the company says the terminations were for misconduct.

All terminated employees were part of a private trade union chat group on Discord and were either union members or attempting to organise at the company, according to an IWGB spokesperson.

“Rockstar has just carried out one of the most blatant and ruthless acts of union busting in the history of the games industry,” said Alex Marshall, IWGB president.

“This flagrant contempt for the law and for the lives of the workers who bring in their billions is an insult to their fans and the global industry.”

Alan Lewis, a Take-Two spokesman, said the firings were “for gross misconduct, and for no other reason” and that “we fully support Rockstar’s ambitions and approach.”

Rockstar has increased security measures following a massive 2022 leak that released dozens of videos of unfinished footage from Grand Theft Auto VI.

In early 2024, the company faced union criticism for requiring workers to return to office five days per week, with Rockstar citing security concerns as partial justification.

Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled for release on May 26, 2026, and is expected to be one of the top-selling video games of all time.

The labour dispute comes as Rockstar enters the final development and marketing phase for its most anticipated release.

The firings represent a significant escalation in tensions between major game studios and unionisation efforts.

The video game industry has seen increased unionisation activity in recent years as workers push for better working conditions, job security, and work-life balance.

The IWGB claims the simultaneous termination of union-affiliated employees across multiple offices demonstrates coordinated anti-union activity, though Rockstar maintains the dismissals were solely for misconduct.