Rockstar’s Statement Contains “Disinformation” About Fired Developers, IWGB Union Claims

In a growing labor dispute that has captured global attention, the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has strongly contested Rockstar Games’ explanation for the termination of more than 30 staff members, calling the company’s official statement “littered with falsehoods and disinformation.”

The controversy, which erupted in October 2025, centers around the dismissal of employees from Rockstar’s UK and international offices. Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar’s parent company, has maintained that the workers were fired for “gross misconduct, and for no other reason.” According to statements provided to GameSpot, Rockstar specifically claimed the dismissals were a result of employees discussing “specific game features from upcoming and unannounced titles” and sharing “confidential information” in a public forum.

IWGB has categorically rejected this characterization in an emailed statement to GameSpot. “Rockstar’s latest statement is littered with falsehoods and disinformation—they have given multiple, conflicting reasons to explain why the workers were fired, as if attempting to reverse engineer a rationale for the dismissals,” the union stated.

The labor organization further criticized Rockstar’s framing of the incident: “Once again, they have chosen to mischaracterize 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 dispute has rapidly escalated into a high-profile labor rights issue in the gaming industry, drawing attention from political figures and industry professionals alike. IWGB highlighted that the controversy has reached the highest levels of UK politics, noting that even the UK Prime Minister addressed the matter in the House of Commons. The union characterized Rockstar’s actions as a “lawless attack on the people who make them their billions.”

Public reaction has been swift and substantial. Protests have formed outside Rockstar North’s Edinburgh headquarters, demonstrating solidarity with the terminated employees. In a significant show of internal dissent, over 200 current Rockstar Games developers signed a letter demanding the reinstatement of their dismissed colleagues.

The confrontation comes at a critical time for Rockstar, which is widely believed to be in production on highly anticipated titles including the next installment in its flagship Grand Theft Auto series. The company, known for creating some of the most profitable entertainment products in history, now faces questions about its labor practices during a period when game industry unionization efforts are gaining momentum.

This dispute highlights growing tensions in the video game industry regarding worker rights, job security, and the balance between confidentiality requirements and employees’ ability to discuss workplace conditions. As digital entertainment companies generate record revenues, workers across the sector are increasingly organizing to demand better treatment and more transparent policies.

In a related development that underscores the broader unionization trend in the gaming sector, id Software, the legendary studio behind the Doom franchise, has formed a comprehensive “wall-to-wall” union covering its 165-person Texas-based team. The union aims to protect workers against artificial intelligence displacement while securing improved benefits. Microsoft, which owns id Software through its Bethesda acquisition, has formally recognized the union.

As the standoff between Rockstar and the IWGB continues, industry observers note that its resolution could set important precedents for labor relations in game development studios worldwide.