Workers at the Grand Theft Auto studio just went public. This week, they revealed the Rockstar union: the Rockstar Game Workers Union. The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain backs the new group. It represents staff across Rockstar’s UK offices.
The union announced itself with a video that recaps the past seven months — the firings, the office protests, a UK government commitment to investigate, and the IWGB’s legal action.
And the timing is pointed. Back on October 30, 2025, Rockstar fired more than 30 staff who had been organizing. As a result, the IWGB hit back hard. It called the move “the most blatant and ruthless act of union busting in the history of the games industry.” Rockstar, however, told a different story. It said the workers shared confidential information and lost their jobs for gross misconduct.
What the union wants
Their demands, meanwhile, echo across the games industry. Members want pay transparency and flexible working. Above all, they want an end to crunch — the long hours that precede a big launch. So going public also shields organizers. And it applies pressure out in the open.
And Rockstar is no ordinary studio. That raises the stakes. After all, the team is deep into Grand Theft Auto’s next entry. It is one of the most anticipated games ever made. So a labor fight at the biggest studio could ripple across the industry.
Still, the dispute is far from over. The IWGB says it will pursue every legal claim it can. It also wants the fired workers reinstated. For now, the union stands in the open. And it dares Rockstar to respond.
