Employees at Rockstar have established a union amidst ongoing legal disputes

Employees at Rockstar have established the Rockstar Game Workers Union (RGWU), affiliating with the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB). They intended to formally announce this after they achieved over a 10% membership level last year.

Following the achievement of this milestone, Rockstar terminated more than 30 staff members in both the UK and Canada, allegedly for sharing private information on a Discord server linked to the IWGB. This was considered by many associated with the union as an act intended to curtail union activities.

The union claimed these terminations were an aggressive measure against unionization within the UK gaming industry, resulting in worldwide protests and significant media scrutiny. This also culminated in a notable legal dispute, with a final hearing expected to occur later this year.

The firings did not deter the union’s growth; rather, the union has reportedly gained more strength, surpassing the 10% membership threshold once again soon after the incidents.

An inquiry was made to Take-Two Interactive about the union's development, yet they chose not to provide any comments. Conversely, Rockstar addressed the allegations, clarifying that the dismissals were due to policy breaches involving the sharing of sensitive information, not due to union engagement.

This year, formal legal proceedings were initiated by IWGB for the workers affected by the layoffs. In January 2026, both parties were present at a UK employment tribunal's preliminary hearing, where a judge did not grant the request for interim relief filed on behalf of the dismissed employees.