Rockstar workers form union amid firings and crunch claims

Employees at Rockstar Games, the developer behind the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI, have publicly formed a union following a series of contentious firings and amid ongoing allegations of intense work pressure. The newly announced Rockstar Game Workers Union, a branch of the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain, aims to advocate for better working conditions, including pay transparency, flexible hours, and an end to extended overtime periods known as "crunch."

The union's formation follows the dismissal of 31 Rockstar employees in October 2025. The terminated workers allege they were fired for attempting to unionize, a claim the company has denied. Rockstar stated the dismissals were due to gross misconduct, specifically for revealing confidential information about upcoming games in a public forum. The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain filed legal claims against the studio over the firings, describing the action as a severe case of union-busting. A final court hearing on the matter is pending.

In a video announcing the union, organizers stated that the firings did not halt their efforts but instead galvanized broader support. They reported that membership...