Rockstar Games has been making headlines lately; not for a game, but for internal turmoil. The company has reportedly fired more than 30 employees, accusing them of “leaking confidential information.” However, the decision has sparked major controversy across the gaming industry. Labor organizations and unions claim the real reason behind the layoffs was to suppress unionization efforts within the company.
According to reports, the situation began in Rockstar’s UK and Canadian offices. Employees were allegedly discussing better working conditions and overtime regulations on an internal Discord server. These conversations were later classified as “leaks of confidential company information,” leading to a wave of sudden dismissals.
Rockstar’s parent company, Take-Two Interactive, released a statement denying any connection between the layoffs and union activity, saying the move was solely made to “protect company secrets.” However, the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) rejected that explanation, calling it “the most aggressive anti-union action in the history of the UK games industry.”
Protests are currently taking place outside Take-Two’s London headquarters, and the IWGB has launched legal action demanding the reinstatement of the fired workers. This development marks a turning point for the growing unionization movement in the gaming industry; a conversation that has already involved studios like CD Projekt RED, Ubisoft, and Activision.
Sources inside Rockstar describe morale as “extremely low,” while the company insists its ongoing projects likely referring to the post-GTA 6 era, will not be affected.
The question remains: Was this truly a move to protect data security, or just another chapter in the gaming industry’s struggle against organized labor? Share your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned to both X and VGNW for the latest updates.
