Rockstar Supports Judge’s Ruling Against Fired GTA 6 Developers, Union Points to Weak Defense Arguments

A judge has ruled against the request for interim relief from the 34 developers of GTA 6 who were let go by Rockstar in October, marking a significant legal setback for the former employees and their union.

The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) sought emergency financial support from the Glasgow Employment Tribunal earlier this month, accusing Rockstar of aggressive union suppression. However, the judge dismissed this request, indicating that it was unlikely the terminations were linked to union activities.

Despite this disappointment, the IWGB plans to continue its legal fight. A representative stated that while the ruling was disheartening, it does not diminish their determination to seek justice during the full hearing. They expressed confidence that the evidence would reveal the firings were not only unjust but also illegal, highlighting the judge’s remark that there was no proof of any negative impact on Rockstar from the union’s activities.

In response, Rockstar expressed satisfaction with the ruling, reiterating their stance that the dismissals were not related to union matters but rather due to leaks of confidential information via a Discord channel associated with the IWGB. The union countered this claim, asserting that the discussions among former employees were solely about working conditions.

The judge noted that the IWGB’s Discord channel had around 350 members, with about half being union members. She also pointed out that some individuals terminated were no longer with Rockstar at the time of the firings, including a journalist who had previously covered the company. Additionally, three of the dismissed employees were based in Canada and not part of the union, although the rest were union members when they were let go.

The IWGB further alleged that Rockstar management had been covertly monitoring the union’s private Discord. They claimed that individuals Rockstar identified as journalists and competitors were actually union officials and former employees still bound by non-disclosure agreements. The union also stated that there was no evidence of an official investigation into the alleged leaks and that no disciplinary actions were taken against the accused before their dismissals.

The IWGB acknowledged that securing interim relief is a challenging feat, especially for a group of this size, and that the failure to obtain such an order does not imply that Rockstar will escape liability for unfair dismissal when the case goes to trial.

As for GTA 6, while it may not be fully “content complete,” Rockstar has stated they will not launch the game in a compromised state, making the anticipated November release date feel increasingly plausible.