“Rockstar thought they could control the narrative. They’re wrong” - tribunal rules against GTA 6 developer’s request to remove union’s blacklisting claims from ongoing legal dispute
A UK employment tribunal has ruled against Rockstar Games’ attempt to remove blacklisting claims from an ongoing legal dispute over alleged union busting at its Grand Theft Auto 6 studio.
In October 2025, Rockstar fired approximately 31 employees who were members of the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB). The company claimed the dismissals were due to gross misconduct and the leaking of confidential information, but the union accused Rockstar of union busting—the unlawful practice of compiling information about workers involved in union activity to discriminate against them.
At a preliminary tribunal hearing, Rockstar sought to narrow the scope of the upcoming trial by having blacklisting accusations struck from the case. The tribunal rejected this request, upholding the IWGB’s right to bring all allegations, including blacklisting claims, to the final trial. The decision represents a significant legal setback for Rockstar and a victory for the fired workers and their union representatives.
The final trial is scheduled to run from September 10 to October 15, 2026. This ruling ensures the case will proceed to full hearing with all allegations intact, allowing both sides to present their complete arguments before the tribunal.
Sources
- “Rockstar thought they could control the narrative. They’re wrong” - tribunal rules against GTA 6 developer’s request to remove union’s blacklisting claims from ongoing legal dispute
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- Fired Rockstar developers can bring blacklisting claims against the GTA 6 developer, UK tribunal rules as final trial looms