Rockstar Games employees in the UK have formed the Rockstar Game Workers Union, six months ahead of Grand Theft Auto 6’s scheduled release on November 19.
The union is a subsidiary of the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain, the same group that has been involved in legal action against Rockstar over the dismissal of 31 employees in October 2025.
The announcement was made through a video as a play on community excitement for the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer, titled “The video GTA fans have been waiting for.”
References: The October 2025 firings and how they moved the union forward
In October 2025, Rockstar laid off 31 employees. The workers claimed the dismissals were retaliation for unionization efforts. Rockstar denied this, saying that the layoffs were due to employees sharing details about upcoming and unannounced game features on a public forum.
The IWGB has filed legal action on behalf of the dismissed employees, and the case is ongoing. The British government is also committed to investigating this matter.
The Rockstar Game Workers Union has reported increases at Rockstar’s UK studios in Edinburgh, London, Leeds, Lincoln and Dundee.
The union has outlined three main priorities for collective action: increasing pay transparency, promoting flexible working arrangements, and ending the hardship periods associated with extended mandatory overtime.
Additionally, the union is raising funds to support its legal case, which aims to secure justice for the 31 dismissed workers. The IWGB emphasizes its goal of highlighting that studios cannot fire employees for organizing.
The financial stakes around GTA 6 and what happens next for Rockstar’s UK union
Rockstar’s parent company Take-Two Interactive expects its revenue to exceed $8 billion in fiscal year 2027. This represents an increase of more than $1 billion over the previous year, driven primarily by the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 for consoles on November 19. Rockstar has not officially confirmed a PC version.
The unionization announcement comes at a time when the publisher is facing significant financial interests, with GTA 6 projected to be one of the biggest entertainment releases in history.
Rockstar has not publicly responded to the formation of the union. Should the company choose to recognize the union for collective bargaining, it will shape the next phase of its relationship with the UK workforce.
The legal case related to the shooting that took place in October 2025 is still ongoing. The results could affect union negotiations, future hiring policies at Rockstar, and how other large game studios handle similar organizing efforts.
The IWGB has not announced specific dates for collective actions or formal bargaining requests at this time.
