Rockstar Games, the company behind the highly anticipated *Grand Theft Auto VI*, recently fired more than 30 employees across its UK and Canadian offices. The gaming giant states these terminations were due to staff distributing and discussing confidential company information in a public forum. However, a prominent labor organization, the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB), strongly disputes this, alleging the dismissals are a "blatant act of union busting" aimed at disrupting organizing efforts.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} This conflict emerges as *Grand Theft Auto VI* faces a new release date of November 19, 2026.^[6][5] ### Company Cites Policy Violations Rockstar Games, through its parent company Take-Two Interactive, maintains that the employees violated internal security policies. A spokesperson for Take-Two stated that the company "took action against a small number of individuals who were found to be distributing and discussing confidential information in a public forum."^[1][7] This action, the spokesperson insisted, was "in no way related to people's right to join a union or engage in union activities."^[1][3][7] The company described the alleged behavior as "gross misconduct," leading to the immediate termination of the affected staff.^[3][8] The exact nature of the confidential information allegedly leaked has not been publicly specified by Rockstar Games.^[9][10] However, the company emphasizes its commitment to protecting sensitive development details for its upcoming titles. This move reflects a continued focus on strict security protocols within the studio. ### Union Calls Firings "Union Busting" The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has vehemently rejected Rockstar's explanation. The union claims that all fired employees were part of a private Discord chat group used for discussing unionization and workplace conditions.^{[1][2][3][11][5]} According to the IWGB, the only non-Rockstar individuals with access to this group were legitimate labor organizers.^[1][2][3] Alex Marshall, President of the IWGB, condemned the firings as "one of the most blatant and ruthless acts of union busting in the history of the games industry."^[3][8][4] Marshall asserted that Rockstar is "afraid of hard working staff privately discussing exercising their rights for a fairer workplace and a collective voice."^[1] He added that management seems to prioritize anti-union efforts over the development schedule for *Grand Theft Auto VI*.^[1][3][5] The union has vowed to pursue legal action to ensure the reinstatement of its members and secure interim relief.^[4] ### Heightened Security After Past Leaks This dispute occurs against a backdrop of increased security measures at Rockstar Games. The company experienced a significant security breach in September 2022, resulting in the leak of dozens of videos showing unfinished *Grand Theft Auto VI* footage.^{[12][3][8][13]} Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick called the 2022 leak "terribly unfortunate" and stated the company takes such incidents "very seriously."^[1] In early 2024, Rockstar also mandated that all employees return to in-office work five days a week.^{[12][14][3][8][15]} The company cited security and collaboration as key reasons for this policy change.^[14][16] The IWGB criticized this mandate at the time, calling it "reckless" and raising concerns about its impact on developers.^[3][4] ### Anticipation for Grand Theft Auto VI The firings and the ongoing labor dispute come as anticipation builds for *Grand Theft Auto VI*. The game is widely expected to be one of the biggest entertainment launches in history.^[1][3] Rockstar Games officially announced the game in February 2022 and unveiled its first trailer in December 2023.^[17][12] The release date for *Grand Theft Auto VI* has been subject to multiple adjustments. It was initially expected in Fall 2025, then pushed to May 26, 2026, and most recently confirmed for November 19, 2026.^[17][12][6] Rockstar stated that these additional months will "allow us to finish the game with the level of polish you have come to expect and deserve."^[12][6] This delay further emphasizes the high stakes involved in the game's development and release. The current situation highlights the ongoing tension between company policies on confidentiality and employees' rights to organize. Both Rockstar Games and the IWGB stand firm on their positions, leaving the future for the fired employees uncertain.