Things are really heating up in the case between Rockstar Games and its 34 former employees who were fired last year when they were about to unionize. The starry company claims to have fired them for leaking information about upcoming games (including GTA VI).
The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has always refuted this claim, stating that the employees used “private and legally protected union channels”. The union represented the former employees on Monday, January 5, 2026, at a preliminary hearing at the Glasgow Court Center in Scotland.
The IWGB is seeking interim measures to allow those affected to retain their visas and return to Rockstar Games pending the final hearing.
“We hope this week’s tribunal will grant urgently needed relief to the workers whose lives were turned upside down by Rockstar’s brutal union-busting, leaving them and their families without incomes, without secure futures, and in some cases without even the right to remain in the country they have made their home.
However, no matter the outcome of this interim hearing, we remain confident in the strength of the case we have brought against Rockstar Games. We reiterate our firm belief that Rockstar broke the law when it summarily dismissed 31 of our members, and we look forward now to the day we face them in court for a full and substantive tribunal hearing.
Whether or not interim relief is granted this week, we will continue fighting in the courts and on the streets until we see justice, for the fired Rockstar workers and for workers everywhere fighting for a fairer future.”
For its part, Rockstar Games is standing its ground, denying the allegations against it. The studio accuses the developers of communicating confidential data to competitors, which could harm the company’s business.
“Rockstar categorically denies the claim being heard in today’s hearing.
We have consistently made clear that we took necessary action against a group of individuals across the UK and Canada who discussed highly confidential information, including relating to game features from upcoming and unannounced titles, in an insecure and public social channel. This was a breach of long-standing and well-understood confidentiality policies.
This channel contained at least 25 non-Rockstar employees, including employees of competitor game developers, a video games industry journalist, as well as dozens of anonymous, unidentifiable members.
Meanwhile, employees who posted union-supportive messages, but who did not breach confidentiality policies, were not dismissed.
We regret that these dismissals were necessary; however, confidentiality is fundamental to everything Rockstar Games does. Global interest in our games is unparalleled. Even the smallest leak of any information relating to our products and practices can cause major commercial and creative damage — as we have seen in the past — and damage the experience of our loyal players and dedicated team. This was never about union membership. We have always taken a zero-tolerance approach to unauthorized releases of information — and we always will.”
