GTA VI maker Rockstar Games says fired employees leaked company secrets

Rockstar Games , the studio behind the Grand Theft Auto series , says it terminated over 30 employees last week for sharing confidential company information in public forums, rejecting accusations from a labor union that the mass firing was an attempt to crush unionisation efforts at the Grand Theft Auto studio.

The gaming giant told Bloomberg that the employees violated company policy by "distributing and discussing confidential information in a public forum." A Rockstar spokesperson insisted the action "was in no way related to people's right to join a union or engage in union activities," describing the behaviour as "gross misconduct."

However, the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain ( IWGB ) disputes this account, claiming all terminated workers were part of a private Discord channel used solely for union organising. The only non-employees with access were labor organisers, according to the union.

Security concerns mount Ahead of GTA VI launch
The firings come seven months before Grand Theft Auto VI's highly anticipated release on May 26, 2026. The game is expected to become one of the best-selling titles in history, making the timing particularly significant for Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.

Rockstar has maintained strict security protocols since a devastating 2022 leak exposed dozens of videos showing unfinished GTA VI footage. The studio subsequently mandated a five-day office return policy in early 2024, citing security as a primary justification—a move the union criticized as "reckless" at the time, Bloomberg reported.

Union vows legal action against "Ruthless" terminationsIWGB President Alex Marshall characterised the firings as "one of the most blatant and ruthless acts of union busting in the history of the games industry." He accused Rockstar of prioritizing anti-union efforts over game development, stating management "don't care about delays to GTA VI."

The union plans to pursue legal remedies seeking reinstatement and interim relief for affected members. Among those terminated were workers on company-sponsored visas and employees with medical conditions who will lose workplace healthcare access.