Rockstar Layoffs Reach UK Parliament as MP Raises Issue in House of Commons Session

The dispute between GTA 6 developer Rockstar Games and 31 dismissed employees has now reached the UK Parliament.

MP Christine Jardine in the UK Parliament discussing Rockstar firings | Image Credit: X via Gaming Amigos

On November 1, 2025, around 30 to 40 employees across Rockstar’s UK and Canada studios were abruptly terminated for what the company described as “gross misconduct.” However, initial reporting by Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier suggested the decision may have been tied to shutting down unionization efforts within the studio.

According to The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB), many of the employees who lost their jobs were among the most active union organizers at Rockstar. The union’s spokesperson even called the incident “one of the most blatant and ruthless acts of union-busting in the history of the games industry.” Rockstar, meanwhile, continues to insist that the dismissals stemmed from employees “leaking company secrets,” not union activity.

Now, Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine, who represents Edinburgh West, raised the matter in the House of Commons and urged ministers to support the affected workers.

In a social media post, Jardine shared: "Video game giant Rockstar has sacked more than 30 workers across the UK, including my constituents working at their Edinburgh office. I urged Ministers to support workers who have lost their jobs, and stop this from happening again."

During her Commons remarks, she said multiple constituents contacted her directly, claiming they were dismissed for attempting to unionize and for privately discussing working conditions.

"I declare an interest because I have an employee who works for the company I'm about to mention, though they are not affected by the actions taken. That company is the video game company Rockstar, which has fired at least 30 employees across its UK studios, including Rockstar North in Edinburgh. Several of my constituents have been affected, and some came to see me last week to express concerns. They claim they have been sacked because they were trying to unionise, and were discussing working conditions in private. But Rockstar has accused them of distributing confidential information and sacked them for gross misconduct. I have written to Rockstar and asked for information on the issue, but I wondered if I can have a meeting with the relevant minister to discuss what steps can be taken to support."

IWGB confirmed that legal action has already been filed, and protests have taken place outside Rockstar North and Take-Two offices. Additional demonstrations are scheduled in London and Paris later this month, with French union Le Syndicat des Travailleureuses du Jeu Vidéo also joining the call for reinstatement.

Internal support is growing as well. More than 200 current Rockstar employees have signed a letter demanding the “immediate reinstatement” of their dismissed colleagues.

In the midst of all the chaos, Rockstar announced yet another delay for Grand Theft Auto VI, shifting its launch window from May 2026 to November. Publisher Take-Two Interactive defended the delay, saying the extra time would help Rockstar deliver the level of polish players expect. While Take-Two has openly backed Rockstar’s development timeline, it has remained silent regarding the ongoing labor dispute.