Current Events > Rockstar's statement on recently fired workers

(+) Yeah! (+)

Rockstar Games has pushed back against the claims that a group of recently laid-off developers were removed for trying to unionize. Instead, these people were leaking company secrets, Rockstar said.

A spokesperson for Rockstar told Bloomberg that the staffers were "distributing and discussing confidential information in a public form." This violated Rockstar's policies, the company said. "This was in no way related to people's right to join a union or engage in union activities."

Between 30 and 40 people were fired from Rockstar's offices in Canada and the UK related to what the developer labeled "gross misconduct." A spokesperson for the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) said the affected staffers were involved in unionizing efforts and said Rockstar is guilty of "one of the most blatant and ruthless acts of union-busting in the history of the games industry."

The union said the affected staffers sent messages within a "private trade union chat group" on Discord. The union acknowledged that outsiders were in the chat, too, but they were labor organizers.

IWGB told Game Developer that Rockstar developers in the UK have a "statutory right to engage in private conversation with union organizers that supersedes any employment contract."

IWGB president Alex Marshall said Rockstar's management are "showing they don't care about delays to GTA 6, and that they're prioritizing union-busting by targeting the very people who make the game."

In 2022, Rockstar suffered a massive leak that revealed the first footage and details about GTA 6. When Rockstar ordered staff back to the office in 2024, the company cited security concerns as one of the reasons for calling staff back. The union opposed this directive at the time.

GTA 6 is Rockstar's next big release, and it's set to launch in May 2026 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar's owner, Take-Two, will release its next earnings report today, November 6, at which time the company is expected to communicate more about GTA 6, or at least re-confirm the release date.

In addition to GTA 6, it's rumored that Rockstar is developing PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2 versions of Red Dead Redemption 2. A GTA 4 remaster could happen as well.

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-dev-says-it-fired-workers-for-leaking-secrets-not-for-trying-to-unionize/1100-6535987/

Both things could be true tbh.

I can see a scenario where those employees violated something like an NDA while in that group chat with outsiders and Rockstar using that as an excuse to union bust them.

Feel like we need a lot more info to come out.

Wow how convenient for them. People leaking information just happened to be the exact same people that were talking about Unionizing and as we all know Rockstar is a historically wonderful employer. :)

They must have been talking about the new GTA MC's feet size.

Well, I ain't buying it.

"The game or the excuse?", you might ask.

"Correct," I would reply.

Crimson_Corsair posted...

Both things could be true tbh.

I can see a scenario where those employees violated something like an NDA while in that group chat with outsiders and Rockstar using that as an excuse to union bust them.

Feel like we need a lot more info to come out.

It's almost definitely this. If the developers were maintaining an off network private Discord they were almost definitely talking shop and probably saying things that would be under NDA or at the very least be the kind of things to get you fired if you leaked them to the gaming press. The fact that they explicitly invited folks into the chat who weren't employees as part of their organizing efforts ended up creating exactly the kind of technicality to justify firing everybody in that room.

Crimson_Corsair posted...

Both things could be true tbh.

I can see a scenario where those employees violated something like an NDA while in that group chat with outsiders and Rockstar using that as an excuse to union bust them.

Feel like we need a lot more info to come out.

It could some kind of thing where someone accidently made an offhand comment that technically violated the NDA but wasn't really consequential. Hard to say for sure until more comes out.

Ya'll need to stop. It's union busting and that's all it is.
This nonsense Rockstar is peddling is just that, nonsense.

Rockstar is the one of the worst of the worst when it comes to developers and their history proves that.

Rockstar might be telling the truth, but I doubt it.

"Confidential information" such as "we worked 98 hours last week and didnt get paid overtime", and "our department policy states that we dont get paid lunch breaks but my boss is making me work through them without compensation because we have a deadline". Definitely the kind of trade secrets that need to be protected from the competition at all costs.

Goddam Pinkertons

reminds me of a manager i had years ago who fired a co-worker because he was a racist fuck and didn't like the guys hair. instead he claimed he was under-performing.

point is you can always find a reason to fire when an employee does something you dont like but you cant fire them for.

GTA VI has been delayed again...

https://www.ign.com/articles/gta-6-is-delayed-again-until-november-2026

https://gtaforums.com/topic/1004182-rockstar-games-alleged-union-busting/#comment-1072605777

One of the people that is in the larger union group posted this and their identity was confirmed by the admin apparently.

I automatically just dont believe companies at face value.

-if- company secrets were being shared in discord with outsiders, then yeah give them the boot. But I dont believe thats what was happening

Stuff like this is at least partially why I cant in good faith enjoy a Rockstar game. They represent the worst of the industry in many ways.

Rika_Furude posted...

I automatically just dont believe companies at face value.

-if- company secrets were being shared in discord with outsiders, then yeah give them the boot. But I dont believe thats what was happening

I agree. Unfortunately....too many people are more worried about GTA delays than the treatment of people.

Some nice boot enjoyers in this thread.

Workers stand together.

Vyrulisse posted...

Ya'll need to stop. It's union busting and that's all it is. This nonsense Rockstar is peddling is just that, nonsense.

This.

Good ol fashioned Union busting. Classic.

Vyrulisse posted...

Ya'll need to stop. It's union busting and that's all it is.
This nonsense Rockstar is peddling is just that, nonsense.

Rockstar is the one of the worst of the worst when it comes to developers and their history proves that.

HojoojoH_2 posted...

Some nice boot enjoyers in this thread.

Workers stand together.

These. Wild that people are making excuses for the shitty corpo.

Murphiroth posted...

These. Wild that people are making excuses for the shitty corpo.

I mean, we can explain it..for loads of ppl here games and their developers and publishers are their entire identity. That's lame as hell. But whatever. It's not usually harmful, I guess.

We can't let it slide when it's anti-worker, though.

I for one will never buy another Rockstar game.

Union busters always have an excuse to fire all of the main organizers, or close the store, or cancel the project, or whatever, it's never about organizing according to them, these EMPLOYEES are just so BAD.

s0nicfan posted...

It's almost definitely this. If the developers were maintaining an off network private Discord they were almost definitely talking shop and probably saying things that would be under NDA or at the very least be the kind of things to get you fired if you leaked them to the gaming press. The fact that they explicitly invited folks into the chat who weren't employees as part of their organizing efforts ended up creating exactly the kind of technicality to justify firing everybody in that room.

Except they are legally allowed to discuss these things with union representatives.

So rockstar are just openly admitting to it essentially and not realising the rest of the world isnt America where you are encouraged to despise your workers.

considering GTA6 is looking like it'll be the first $100 game I am legitimately hoping it fails

Vyrulisse posted...

https://gtaforums.com/topic/1004182-rockstar-games-alleged-union-busting/#comment-1072605777

One of the people that is in the larger union group posted this and their identity was confirmed by the admin apparently.

Rockstar are turning into Take-Two. Disgusting

KFHEWUI posted...

Rockstar are turning into Take-Two. Disgusting

they always where rockstar has had horror stories about them forever

So forty people that were forming a union also just so happened to be breaking their NDAs?

Bullshit.

KFHEWUI posted...

GTA VI has been delayed again...

https://www.ign.com/articles/gta-6-is-delayed-again-until-november-2026

Timing is more than a bit intriguing.

KFHEWUI posted...

distributing and discussing confidential information in a public form

AKA they were comparing salaries and benefits

Generally the first thing that happens when a union starts to form.

Sputnik1337 posted...

"Confidential information" such as "we worked 98 hours last week and didnt get paid overtime", and "our department policy states that we dont get paid lunch breaks but my boss is making me work through them without compensation because we have a deadline". Definitely the kind of trade secrets that need to be protected from the competition at all costs.

Yup.

NDAs need to be really narrow and any that aren't need to be thrown out and punished.

Over 200 Rockstar employees have signed letters demanding that their colleagues be reinstated to their jobs. The fired workers were all members of the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain, and the organization has called Rockstar's actions "the most ruthless act of union busting in the history of the games industry."

"It's heartwarming to see so many of our colleagues supporting us and holding management to account--during a period where Rockstar want us to feel scared, my brave former colleagues are marching straight up to our boss's door and demanding our voices are heard and not backing down," wrote one of the former employees, whose real name was withheld. "It's clear to everyone close to this situation that this is a blatant, unapologetic act of vicious union busting. Rockstar employs so many talented game developers, all of whom are crucial to making the games we put out."

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/over-200-rockstar-devs-sign-letter-demanding-fired-staff-be-reinstated/1100-6536181/

Right, sure, R*. I totally believe you.

Voidgolem posted...

considering GTA6 is looking like it'll be the first $100 game I am legitimately hoping it fails

I wish people would stop pushing this rumor.

HojoojoH_2 posted...

Some nice boot enjoyers in this thread.

Workers stand together.

You see it all the time. Some people are perfectly willing to throw away their convictions when it come to their entertainment. Its the same in the Harry Potter threads where some people say they support trans people, but god forbid they don't give Rowling money.

ITT: These types of lying ass people saying they wont be buying GTA 6 day one.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/0/0d57f426.jpg

Sputnik1337 posted...

"Confidential information" such as "we worked 98 hours last week and didnt get paid overtime", and "our department policy states that we dont get paid lunch breaks but my boss is making me work through them without compensation because we have a deadline". Definitely the kind of trade secrets that need to be protected from the competition at all costs.

thats probably what happen and it would be info that the union people would need but it also violates policy so they thats all they need to fire them

SwayM posted...

ITT: These types of lying ass people saying they wont be buying GTA 6 day one.

I won't be buying it day one for sure.

I will wait for the PC version.

SwayM posted...

ITT: These types of lying ass people saying they wont be buying GTA 6 day one.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/0/0d57f426.jpg

Maybe they just aren't interested in GTA anymore in the first place. Like you with Pokemon I think.

StopBeinMad posted...

Maybe they just aren't interested in GTA anymore in the first place. Like you with Pokemon I think.

I dont like GTA cant get into it

Looks like I'll be getting this one used so they don't get any cash from me

StopBeinMad posted...

Maybe they just aren't interested in GTA anymore in the first place. Like you with Pokemon I think.

I'm very interested in Pokemon I'm just also very disappointed with the quality of game they produce.