Rockstar Games Employment Tribunal Extended into November
- The employment tribunal involving Rockstar Games and laid-off IWGB union members has been extended to November.
- Additional trial dates are set for November 17 and 18, just before the release of GTA 6.
- Over 30 employees were terminated for alleged gross misconduct related to union activities, sparking claims of union-busting.
The ongoing employment tribunal between Rockstar Games, the developer of Grand Theft Auto 6, and members of the IWGB union, who were laid off from the studio, has been extended into November. Originally scheduled to conclude this Friday, the timeline was pushed back due to prolonged witness questioning.
This extension allows both Rockstar and IWGB legal representatives to present their closing arguments to the judge for a final ruling, which will now occur on the newly scheduled dates of November 17 and 18. These dates coincide with the day before the highly anticipated release of GTA 6, raising questions about the potential impact of the game’s launch on the tribunal.
The extension was partly requested by Rockstar’s legal team to allow more time to cross-examine some of the laid-off employees, while the IWGB is continuing its cross-examination of Rockstar witnesses, revealing significant details throughout this process.
The tribunal arises from the abrupt termination of over 30 Rockstar employees in late 2025, alleged by the IWGB to have been conducted as a union-busting measure, since the employees were last known to be in a union Discord channel. In contrast, Rockstar claims the firings resulted from unauthorized information sharing. Notably, a leading Rockstar executive recently expressed indifference to evidence pertaining to unionization efforts and shifted focus to unrelated issues.
The outcome of this tribunal remains uncertain as it stands as a landmark case within the UK gaming industry, with potentially lasting ramifications depending on the verdict for either party.
News Courtesy of Eurogamer
