Game Workers Union Rebuts Rockstar’s Claims About Controversial Firings as Dispute Continues

In a dramatic escalation of tensions, the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has accused gaming giant Rockstar of attempting to “reverse engineer a rationale” for its controversial dismissal of 34 employees, marking the latest development in an increasingly public labor dispute that has now reached the highest levels of UK government.

The IWGB’s strongly worded statement comes in direct response to Rockstar’s defense of the firings, in which the Grand Theft Auto developer claimed the affected employees had “distributed and discussed confidential information” about upcoming titles “in breach of company policy and their legal obligations.” Rockstar firmly denied allegations that the dismissals were connected to union membership or activities, calling such claims “entirely false and misleading.”

This latest exchange follows an investigative report by People Make Games in late November that painted a different picture of events. According to that report, the firings stemmed from conversations in an invitation-only Discord server used by employees and IWGB union members. The report suggested these discussions primarily centered on workplace issues such as salaries, bonuses, and HR matters—topics generally protected under the UK’s Equality Act of 2010.

The IWGB’s response pulls no punches, accusing Rockstar of spreading “falsehoods and disinformation” and providing “multiple, conflicting reasons” for the terminations. The union specifically takes issue with what it calls Rockstar’s attempt to “mischaracterise workers speaking about their working conditions in a private forum as ‘leaking information.'”

“It is hard to understand this statement as anything but a desperate attempt to deflect from the global scrutiny they have come under over the last month,” the union stated. “From the UK Prime Minister in the House of Commons, to the game developers across the world erupting in protest—all eyes are on Rockstar and their lawless attack on the people who make them their billions.”

The dispute has indeed captured attention at the highest levels of British politics. Earlier this week, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer addressed the situation in Parliament, calling the firings “deeply concerning” and pledging that MPs would investigate the matter. “Every worker has the right to join a trade union and we’re determined to strengthen workers rights and ensure they don’t face unfair consequences for being part of a union,” Starmer remarked.

This marks the second time the controversy has been raised in Parliament after Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine first brought up the issue in November.

The timing is particularly significant as the UK’s Labour government, which campaigned heavily on strengthening workers’ rights, is currently pushing its employment rights bill through the House of Lords. This political context places additional pressure on Rockstar, one of the world’s most profitable game development studios and creator of the record-breaking Grand Theft Auto franchise.

Initially, Rockstar characterized the dismissals as resulting from “gross misconduct” before facing allegations of union busting and a subsequent lawsuit from the IWGB. The company had previously declined to comment on the People Make Games investigation until its recent statement, suggesting the Prime Minister’s involvement may have forced its hand.

Meanwhile, solidarity with the fired workers continues to grow, with protests occurring both in the UK and internationally. The dispute comes at a particularly sensitive time for Rockstar, which is currently developing the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6, scheduled for release in 2025.

As this labor conflict unfolds, it highlights broader tensions within the gaming industry regarding workers’ rights, union representation, and the balance between company confidentiality and protected workplace discussions—issues likely to remain in the spotlight as the legal proceedings continue.