The gaming industry is facing another labor rights battle as Rockstar Games, the renowned developer behind Grand Theft Auto, has been accused of union busting after firing over 30 employees.

According to the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB), the staff members were terminated on Thursday, with the union claiming these firings are illegal and retaliatory. The workers, who were members of the IWGB Game Workers Union Discord channel, span offices in the UK and Canada.

IWGB President Alex Marshall didn’t mince words, stating that Rockstar has conducted “the most blatant and ruthless act of union busting in the history of the games industry”. The union highlighted that some of the fired workers were visa holders sponsored by Rockstar and included individuals with medical conditions.

Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar’s parent company, maintains a different narrative. Spokesman Alan Lewis told reporters that the terminations were due to “gross misconduct, and for no other reason,” emphasizing the company’s support for Rockstar’s approach.

This controversy emerges at a sensitive time for the studio, with Grand Theft Auto VI experiencing multiple delays and currently scheduled for a May 2026 release. The ongoing tension between game workers and management underscores the increasing labor organizing efforts in the tech and gaming sectors.

The IWGB has committed to mounting a “full and robust defense” of its members, signaling a potential legal battle that could have significant implications for labor rights in the gaming industry.

As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how this conflict will impact Rockstar’s reputation and the broader conversation around worker protections in game development.