“Say Sorry, Be Nice”: Protesting GTA 6 Developers Call Out Mass Firings
- Sagar Mankar
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
GTA 6 developer Rockstar Games has come under heavy fire after the recent dismissal of dozens of employees.
On November 1, 2025, around 30 to 40 employees across Rockstar’s UK and Canada studios were terminated for what the company described as “gross misconduct.” However, earlier reports by Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier suggested that the firings were aimed at shutting down unionization efforts within the company.
According to The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB), the employees who lost their jobs were "some of the most active union members" inside Rockstar. The union’s spokesperson went as far as to call it “one of the most blatant and ruthless acts of union-busting in the history of the games industry.” Rockstar, on the other hand, maintains that the dismissals were related to “leaking company secrets,” not union activity.
Developers Speak Out
Since the mass firing, developers from Rockstar’s Edinburgh office and others nearby have gathered in protest, joined by journalists and industry supporters. Chris Bratt from People Make Games was seen attending one of the demonstrations, where fired employees spoke about their experiences and the emotional toll of their sudden dismissals.
Rachel, a developer who spent nine years at Rockstar, shared a deeply personal account of the situation. “I was hired as a junior in 2016,” she said, holding back tears. “For the past nine years, I could not have hoped for a better group of colleagues, mentors, and friends. When I was fired without warning, without process, and without representation, I felt like a part of me had been ripped out. I wasn’t even allowed to say goodbye.”
The protest outside Rockstar’s office echoed with chants of “Say sorry, be nice!” a phrase that ironically has been part of Rockstar’s internal slogan for years. For many, the chant was a way to call out the company for not living up to its own values.
Union Members Claim Targeted Dismissals
Bran, a developer with three years at Rockstar, said it’s “hard to deny the connection” between those fired and those active in the union. She explained that the UK team was close to reaching statutory recognition for the union, just before the upcoming Workers’ Rights Bill 2026 would have made unionizing easier. “If this was going to happen from management’s side,” she said, “now was a good time before next year.”
For her and others, the term “gross misconduct” carries a devastating stigma. “Having that on my CV for life is a huge detriment,” Bran explained. “It feels shameful. We still want to be here. We want to finish the work we started. But now we carry this mark that makes us look like criminals.”
Another long-time developer, Jordon, who spent 11 years at Rockstar, said the firings undermined everything employees had tried to build within the company. “We thought we could create a better workplace, one where we work with management, not against them. But this makes you question whose values actually matter.”
IWGB Vows to Continue the Fight
During a rally outside Take-Two Interactive’s UK office, IWGB representatives made it clear that they’re not backing down. “We’ve submitted our legal claim,” said one spokesperson. “The ball is in Rockstar’s court now. We hope they’ll make things right, but if they don’t, we’ll continue to put pressure through legal channels and public demonstrations.”
According to the union, their immediate goal is the reinstatement of all 34 dismissed employees, 31 from the UK and three from Canada, along with full compensation for lost wages and accountability from Rockstar for what they call “unfair dismissals without procedure.”
The spokesperson emphasized that while Rockstar may have calculated the financial cost of these firings, including potential lawsuits and game delays, they underestimated the power of solidarity. “They’ll account for bad press and legal fees,” the union leader said. “But they can’t account for the bonds between people, for workers standing together. That’s something they’ll never understand until they see it.”
For now, the protests continue. Fired employees, union supporters, and even some current Rockstar developers are standing together outside the studio, demanding accountability and reinstatement.
This controversy comes right as Grand Theft Auto VI faces another delay. The game, which was recently pushed to November 19, 2026, is already rumored to be affected by the loss of key developers. According to reports, remaining employees are anxious about further production setbacks, something Rockstar can ill afford, given that GTA 6 is projected to be the biggest entertainment product launch in history.