Rockstar Faces Tribunal Over 31 Dismissed GTA 6 Workers
The final hearing over 31 workers dismissed from GTA 6 development begins in Glasgow from September 10th and runs to mid October in the middle of the company's largest marketing cycle to date.
Rockstar Games will appear before an employment tribunal in Glasgow from Thursday, September 10th, where the IWGB Union will allege that 31 workers dismissed from GTA 6 development last October were blacklisted and unlawfully fired.
The information comes from a statement published by the IWGB Union, the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain, which is backing the 31 claimants and has been campaigning on their behalf since the dismissals in October 2025.
Hearings are scheduled to run from September 10th until mid October just weeks before the release of GTA VI.
What the Union Is Alleging
The IWGB's case has two strands. It argues the reason for the dismissals was unlawful, and that the process used to carry them out was unlawful as well.
The union claims Rockstar removed the workers because of their union activity, and that the studio compiled lists identifying union members and used those lists to decide who was dismissed. That practice is known as blacklisting and is prohibited under UK law.
The union also says the workers were given no disciplinary process and no right of appeal before losing their jobs.
“For almost a year, the truth about what happened to us has been buried by Rockstar and surrounded by speculation. Now we finally get the chance to put it on the record." - Jason Lewis, former Rockstar Games Employee and IWGB Union member.
What has Rockstar said?
Rockstar has said the dismissals related to messages posted in a private Discord channel used by union members, which the studio says breached the employees' confidentiality agreements.
The IWGB rejects that explanation and maintains the dismissals were an attack on the workers' union activity rather than a confidentiality matter.
Rockstar has not commented publicly on the tribunal itself.
Rockstar applied to have the blacklisting allegations removed from the claim before the final hearing.
A judge rejected the application, which means those allegations remain part of the case and will be examined over the coming weeks.
How the Dismissals Were Carried Out
Workers who were in the office on the day were called into meetings, told the decision took effect immediately and escorted out of the building, according to the union.
Those who were not on site say they were told in phone calls lasting around two minutes, then locked out of their work accounts.
One of the dismissed workers, Will Mesilane, was forced to return to Australia after Rockstar withdrew his work visa and reported him to the Home Office. The union says he was given no opportunity to appeal beforehand.
The dismissals were followed by protests outside Take-Two Interactive offices in London, Paris and New York, and the allegations were raised in Prime Minister's Questions by Chris Murray MP.
What the Workers Are Asking For
The dismissed employees are seeking reinstatement, or compensation if reinstatement is not ordered, along with a finding that the dismissals were unfair.
Jason Lewis, one of the dismissed workers, said the hearing is the first opportunity to establish a record of what happened, describing the past year as one in which the truth had been "buried by Rockstar and surrounded by speculation."
IWGB President Alex Marshall framed the case as a test beyond the games industry, saying that if Rockstar succeeds every employer will see it as a sign that they can do the same.
"If Rockstar can get away with firing workers for organising, then every employer in Britain gets the message that they can do the same. We cannot let that happen.”
- IWGB President Alex Marshall
Supporters Asked Not to Boycott GTA VI
The claimants have asked supporters not to boycott GTA VI and to contribute to their legal fund instead, which is covering the cost of running a five week tribunal.
Campaign t-shirt sales have raised further money, with support from gaming content creators and several Scottish MPs.
What Happens Next
The hearing is due to conclude in mid October, roughly a month before GTA VI arrives and while Rockstar's marketing campaign is at its height. Nothing in the case will affect the release itself.
It is worth noting that everything set out above comes from the IWGB's own statement and from previous reporting, rather than from the tribunal or from Rockstar Games. The allegations have not yet been tested in evidence, and no findings have been made against the studio.