GTA 6 Developers Push for Union Recognition at Rockstar, Willing to Take Fight to UK Government

Rockstar developers have officially applied for voluntary recognition of the IWGB Game Workers Union, aiming to make the Grand Theft Auto 6 studio the second UK games company with a recognized union. If approved, the union would provide members with enhanced protections and rights through a formal collective bargaining framework covering pay transparency, flexible working, and excessive overtime (crunch), the IWGB announced today. Currently, Disco Elysium developer ZA/UM is the only UK studio with formal union recognition.

The IWGB claims to represent a "significant portion" of Rockstar's workforce across its Edinburgh, Dundee, Lincoln, Leeds, and London offices, and says its presence has led to "unprecedented" average pay raises and financial incentives for crunch for the first time.

Josh Walter, a senior QA tester at Rockstar Lincoln, stated: "Rockstar leads the industry in the games we create. We believe it can also lead in how it treats the people who make them. There's so much special about the studio and our work. We want to protect that. When people face pay disparities, excessive overtime, or inflexible arrangements, they can't do their best work. We want to sit down with management to build a future where both the games and the conditions of those who make them are as strong as possible."

Shanti Easton-Steel, production coordinator at Rockstar North, added: "This is a landmark moment for the Rockstar Game Workers Union, and hopefully for the industry. It's thanks to the hard work of our members—both current and those fired last October—that we're now strong enough to pursue formal recognition. While it's painful that our dismissed colleagues aren't here to share this milestone, the best way to honor their contribution is by succeeding in the fight they helped start, making them proud. This recognition bid comes after years of effort and couldn't have happened without support from non-member colleagues too. We hope many more will join the union, but even for those who don't, we ask for continued support as we push toward pay transparency, fairer crunch practices, and better flexible working."

IGN has reached out to Rockstar for comment.

The recognition application comes amid an ongoing legal dispute over alleged union busting by Rockstar. Rockstar maintains that the employees fired late last year were dismissed for leaking game features on Discord, not for unionizing. 34 staff were let go—31 in the UK and three in Canada—sparking protests outside Rockstar North in Edinburgh and parent company Take-Two's London office.

The IWGB is challenging the dismissals through a Glasgow employment tribunal, which rejected an interim relief application in January. A Rockstar spokesperson told IGN: "We welcome the decision, consistent with our position. We regret that dismissals were necessary but stand by our course of action as supported by the hearing outcome." A final hearing is set for September 2026 to determine if workers were unlawfully fired for union activity.

All this unfolds ahead of GTA 6's November launch, expected to be the biggest entertainment launch ever. The IWGB noted that preorders reportedly generated $3 billion last week.

Alex Marshall, IWGB President, said: "Many assumed Rockstar firing 31 union members last year would weaken organizing, but the union is stronger than ever. Over four years, workers have built a significant presence across Rockstar sites, now representing a large portion of the workforce. Applying for recognition is the next step. Rockstar has said it respects trade union rights; now it has a chance to prove it. GTA 6 has reportedly generated over $3 billion in preorders. Rockstar bosses can easily afford to sit down with the workers who created these games and give them a meaningful voice."

Rockstar can refuse recognition, which would allow the IWGB to apply for statutory recognition from the Department for Business and Trade's Central Arbitration Committee (CAC). As for potential strikes, the IWGB told IGN that "members will decide on the organizing strategy they use to secure" recognition.