IWGB Union Says Rockstar’s Statement Is Filled With “Disinformation” Over Fired Developers

The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) strongly criticized Rockstar Games’ explanation for firing over 30 employees, claiming the company’s statement contained numerous inaccuracies and misleading claims.

As a big fan of Rockstar Games, I’ve been following the news about the recent layoffs, and it’s gotten pretty complicated. The company, through its parent Take-Two, claimed they fired over 30 people due to “gross misconduct.” Apparently, Rockstar said the reason was that these employees were talking about details of future, unreleased games online. But the Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) union is pushing back on that explanation, saying Rockstar’s version of events isn’t accurate. It’s frustrating as a fan to see this kind of stuff happening and not have a clear picture of what’s going on.

The union stated that Rockstar’s recent statements are full of lies and misleading information. They’ve offered several different and inconsistent explanations for the firings, seemingly trying to justify them after the fact. Rockstar is again falsely portraying workers discussing their jobs privately as if they were revealing confidential information. The union believes this is a desperate attempt to distract from the widespread criticism Rockstar has faced recently, from comments by the UK Prime Minister to protests from game developers worldwide – everyone is watching Rockstar’s actions and their unfair treatment of the people who generate their enormous profits.

The conflict began escalating in October 2025, with protests erupting outside Rockstar North’s Edinburgh office. More than 200 developers at Rockstar Games signed a letter calling for the reinstatement of the fired workers. The UK Prime Minister has also stated they will continue to press Rockstar Games for answers. Currently, all attention is focused on the dispute as Rockstar Games and the IWGB union continue to debate the reasons for the terminations and how to resolve the issue.

In other labor news, the developers of the game Doom, id Software, have formed a union encompassing all employees at their Texas studio. The 165-person team is seeking better benefits and protection against the potential impacts of artificial intelligence. Microsoft, which owns id Software, has officially recognized the union.

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2025-12-12 20:10