Rockstar North Dismisses 31 Employees Alleging Gross Misconduct Amid Unionisation Dispute
In October, 31 employees of Rockstar North, most based at the Edinburgh headquarters, were dismissed for alleged gross misconduct. The game developer stated the dismissals were due to distributing and discussing confidential information about upcoming titles in a public forum, denying any link to union membership or activities.
The dismissed workers, however, have claimed the actions amount to union-busting, with reports indicating they sought to unionise in order to improve working conditions. Discussions about conditions had reportedly taken place in a private online forum prior to the dismissals.
Protests in support of the dismissed employees have been held outside Rockstar North's Edinburgh and London offices. The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain has also criticized the dismissals.
Those affected are seeking an employment tribunal, though a decision on whether to hold a hearing could take up to a year. Interim relief measures could either reinstate the workers or keep them on payroll during this period.
The issue has gained political attention, being raised at Westminster's Prime Minister's Questions. Labour leader Keir Starmer affirmed that workers have the right to join a union and pledged to look into the matter following an inquiry by MP Chris Murray.
Rockstar North is a major UK game developer, known for titles such as Grand Theft Auto. The highly anticipated GTA 6 is expected to be released in November 2026.
