UK Government steps into Rockstar’s layoff controversy

For most of the year, Rockstar Games has dominated headlines because of GTA 6 hype; record-breaking trailer numbers, platform speculation, and a marketing machine already in motion. But the studio is in the spotlight again for an entirely different reason, and this time the attention isn’t coming from players; it’s coming from the UK government.

Over the past week, reports surfaced that Rockstar dismissed more than 30 developers working on GTA 6. Internally, the move was described as part of a broader restructuring effort. Externally, it set off a wave of criticism across social channels and industry circles, with many questioning why layoffs were happening so close to the game’s final development stretch.

That reaction escalated quickly enough to reach Westminster. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer responded publicly, calling the situation “deeply concerning” and confirming that ministers will “look into the particular case.” According to Starmer, the government intends to gather details about the layoffs and examine whether workplace policies and employee protections were properly followed.

While no formal investigation has been announced yet, the fact that the Prime Minister addressed the issue directly signals that scrutiny is already underway. It’s an unusual level of political attention for a game studio and it raises new questions about how major developers handle restructuring during billion-dollar production cycles.

Rockstar has not issued a detailed comment beyond internal statements, and it remains unclear whether additional cuts are planned. For now, GTA 6’s development reportedly continues on schedule, but the situation has added another layer of turbulence to what was already one of gaming’s most heavily watched projects.

Stay tuned to VGNW and follow us on X for updates as the UK’s involvement develops and as Rockstar responds to growing public and governmental pressure.