‘It would have been insanity to take no action’ - Fiery opening statements reveal Rockstar’s culture of secrecy as tribunal over sacked GTA 6 employees begins

An employment tribunal in Glasgow is examining Rockstar Games’ firing of 34 employees (31 union members and 3 non-members) across the UK and Canada in October 2025. Rockstar justified the dismissals as necessary for “gross misconduct” related to alleged leaks of confidential GTA 6 information discussed on a private Discord server organized by union members.

The fired workers and the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) contest this narrative, arguing they were unlawfully terminated for engaging in union activity. They characterize the dismissals as “one of the most blatant and ruthless act of union busting in the history of the games industry.”

Court documents reveal the extent of Rockstar’s information security measures, which the company compares to Apple protecting the iPhone or Coca-Cola guarding its formula. Rockstar reportedly maintains security protocols resembling those of Wall Street banks, has installed privacy films on building windows after drones attempted photographing offices, and deployed an informant—described as a “mole”—within the union’s Discord server for over two and a half years.

During opening statements this week, both parties presented conflicting characterizations of the case. Rockstar emphasized the necessity of protecting GTA 6’s secrets, while union representatives challenged the company’s framing of union organizing as misconduct. The tribunal will determine whether the firings were lawful or constitute unlawful discrimination based on trade union activity.

‘It would have been insanity to take no action’ - Fiery opening statements reveal Rockstar’s culture of secrecy as tribunal over sacked GTA 6 employees begins

Sources