Fired Rockstar workers say you shouldn’t boycott GTA 6 for them: ‘We spent years pouring our hard work, skill, and creativity into making GTA’
Rockstar Games terminated 30 unionized workers in the United Kingdom, a decision that workers’ representatives characterize as union-busting. The affected employees are members of The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), which has been pursuing legal action against the studio.
The union has achieved significant progress in its case. In June 2026, IWGB secured the right to present allegations that Rockstar maintained a blacklist of unionized employees—a practice that would violate the Employment Relations Act, which explicitly prohibits compiling union membership lists for discriminatory purposes.
Despite the contentious circumstances, the fired workers have made a notable public statement: they do not want consumers to boycott Grand Theft Auto 6 in solidarity with them. In statements to the press, workers emphasized their pride in the creative work they invested in the GTA franchise, stating, “We spent years pouring our hard work, skill, and creativity into making GTA.”
However, the workers were clear that their position against boycotts should not be interpreted as acceptance of Rockstar’s actions. “That doesn’t mean we want you to let Rockstar off the hook,” they stated, indicating that accountability for the company’s labor practices remains important to them.
The dispute represents an ongoing conflict between major video game publishers and worker organizing efforts in the industry.