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Rockstar Games, the developer behind the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI, is facing serious allegations of union busting following the dismissal of dozens of employees from its UK studios. The firings, which reportedly affect between 30 and 40 staff members, have ignited a significant labor dispute, drawing criticism from union representatives.
The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has strongly condemned the actions, claiming the employees were terminated for their efforts to organize and form a union to advocate for better working conditions. The IWGB characterized the move as a “brazen” and aggressive tactic against labor organization. PCGamer reports that the union labeled the event "the most ruthless act of union busting in the history of the UK games industry," highlighting the gravity of the accusations.
In response, Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two Interactive, has firmly denied the allegations. A company spokesperson stated that the employees in question were terminated due to "gross misconduct, and for no other reason." Take-Two's official statement did not elaborate on the specifics of the alleged misconduct, creating a direct conflict with the union's narrative of retaliatory firings. The opposing accounts have left the reasons for the dismissals contested.
The controversy primarily involves employees at Rockstar's Lincoln studio, a key hub for quality assurance (QA) and testing. This division plays a critical role in finalizing major game releases, making the timing of the layoffs particularly notable as development on Grand Theft Auto VI intensifies. The incident sheds light on the growing tensions within the video game industry surrounding workers' rights, crunch culture, and the increasing push for unionization to secure fair labor practices.
