Protests erupted outside Take-Two and Rockstar North offices as fired employees rallied against accusations of leaking confidential information related to the highly anticipated game, Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6). Up to 40 staff members were terminated, a move condemned by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) as blatant union busting for discussing workplace conditions in a private chat. Rockstar claimed the firings were due to gross misconduct while the IWGB stated the real issue was the employees' attempts to organize a union. Amidst the controversy, the community criticized Rockstar’s priorities as they push toward the GTA 6 release, scheduled for May 2024.

What are the key concerns expressed by the protesting Rockstar employees?

The protesting employees focused on the unfairness of their terminations, claiming they lost their jobs without evidence or warning for merely discussing their rights in a private union chat. They argue this reflects a larger issue of management's disregard for worker rights and conditions.

Grand Theft Auto 6 is a highly awaited sequel in the GTA franchise, which has historically pushed the boundaries of open-world gameplay and storytelling. The franchise has been known for its both commercial success and controversies surrounding workplace culture in its development studios. The buildup to the release of GTA 6 has seen tight security measures following a significant leak of in-development materials in 2022, amplifying the scrutiny on Rockstar’s handling of employee rights and workplace conditions.