Rockstar developers go public with first union
Source: Engadget
Announcement
Workers at Rockstar Games have announced the formation of the Rockstar Game Workers Union, the first labor union at the Grand Theft Auto developer. The announcement was accompanied by an explanatory video. The new union represents workers in Edinburgh, London, Leeds, Lincoln, and Dundee, covering all of Rockstar’s offices in the UK.
Union structure and goals
The organization is a subsidiary of the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB). Members say they are focusing on issues such as:
- Pay transparency
- Flexible working
- An end to crunch
Legal dispute
The union’s formation was spurred by the sudden firing of 31 union members in October 2026. At the time, the IWGB called the decision the “most blatant and ruthless act of union busting in the history of the games industry” (source), while Rockstar maintained that the workers were let go for “gross misconduct” related to the sharing of confidential information.
In the fallout:
- Protests were held in front of several Rockstar studios.
- The IWGB later filed a legal claim against Rockstar over what it considered unfair dismissal (Engadget report).
- The fired workers were denied interim pay by a UK employment tribunal in January 2026 (Game Developer article).
The case has yet to fully play out in court, and part of the reason the Rockstar Game Workers Union decided to go public now is to raise money for their legal defense.
Current context
All eyes are on Rockstar Games and its owner 2K because of the highly anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto VI in November 2026 (Engadget announcement). Unless the game is delayed again, the launch will also draw attention to the Rockstar Game Workers Union.