Edinburgh Councillor Urges Support for Fired GTA 6 Developers

Following protests over Rockstar layoffs, Edinburgh councillor calls for aid and reinstatement of dismissed employees. : Image via Gaming Amigos

A councillor in Edinburgh is urging the city to stand behind former Rockstar North employees after 31 staff members were dismissed from the studio late last month.

The firings, which took place on October 30, were officially attributed to the alleged sharing of confidential information in a public forum.

The decision quickly sparked protests outside Rockstar’s Edinburgh offices and even outside Take-Two Interactive’s headquarters in London.

While the company insists the dismissals were due to “gross misconduct,” unions and workers have argued otherwise. The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) claims the move was actually linked to trade union organising, calling it a potential case of union-busting.

Councillor Dan Heap Steps In

As reported by STV News (via Dexerto), Scottish Green councillor Dan Heap has submitted a motion to the city’s Fair Work Committee.

Heap is asking the council to provide dismissed workers "with information on their welfare rights, and apply for relevant financial support that could be available to them."

More importantly, he wants the council leader to directly call on Rockstar to reconsider its decision and reinstate the staff.

Heap explained that his motion is about ensuring workers aren’t left without guidance or resources.

Legal Action and Wider Context

The IWGB has already launched legal action over the dismissals, arguing that discussions on a private Discord server—where union organising allegedly took place—should be protected under trade union law. According to reporting by People Make Games, company policy discussions on that server may have influenced Rockstar’s decision to terminate staff.

Meanwhile, Rockstar’s Edinburgh office continues work on the next Grand Theft Auto (GTA 6), scheduled for release in November 2026.