Grand Theft Auto workers seek union recognition in major push at Rockstar Games

Workers at Rockstar Games, the studio behind the Grand Theft Auto franchise, are seeking official union recognition as tensions over working conditions and past mass firings continue to escalate ahead of the launch of GTA VI.

Staff across multiple UK studios, including Edinburgh, Leeds, London, Dundee and Lincoln, are working with the Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) Game Workers Union to secure formal recognition from the company. The move would give employees collective bargaining rights over pay, working conditions and workplace protections. 

The organising drive follows the dismissal of more than 30 employees in October 2025, which Rockstar attributed to alleged breaches of confidentiality. However, union representatives and affected workers have accused the company of “union busting” and claim the firings were linked to union activity.

The IWGB has launched legal proceedings challenging the dismissals, with a tribunal set to examine whether workers were unfairly targeted. The case has become one of the most high-profile labour disputes in the UK games industry in recent years.

If successful, Rockstar would become only the second UK games studio to formally recognise a union, following ZA/UM in 2025. Union organisers argue that the move is necessary to address long-standing concerns over crunch culture, job security and transparency within large-scale game development.

Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar’s parent company, has said it is open to engaging in discussions with staff representatives, though it continues to deny allegations of union-related dismissals.

The dispute comes at a critical time for the company, with Grand Theft Auto VI expected to be one of the biggest entertainment releases in history, generating significant global revenue and attention.

Industry observers say the outcome of the union drive could have wider implications for the video game sector, particularly as developers increasingly push for stronger workplace rights across major studios.