Rockstar suffers legal setback as judge rules against studio in union-busting dispute

• An employment tribunal has ruled against Rockstar Games in the latest stage of a legal dispute over alleged union-busting at the studio, after 31 union members were summarily dismissed in October last year
• The latest tribunal decision upheld the right of the IWGB Union - the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain - to continue bringing blacklisting claims against the company at the final trial which will run from 10 September to 15 October this year
• The ruling is the latest set back facing Rockstar Games as it prepares for the planned release date of Grand Theft Auto VI on 19 November, anticipated to be the biggest game launch of all time

Wednesday 17 June 2026: An employment tribunal has ruled against Rockstar Games in the latest stage of a legal dispute over alleged union-busting at the studio. The ruling allows the IWGB Union to continue bringing blacklisting claims against the company at the final trial set to take place over September and October this year.

Following the sudden dismissals of 31 of its members in October last year, the IWGB Union has been preparing to take Rockstar to court over allegations including blacklisting - the practice of compiling information about workers involved in union activity in order to discriminate against them.

At the latest preliminary hearing, Rockstar sought to strike blacklisting claims from the case being brought against it, but the ruling, published yesterday, rejects this attempt to narrow the scope of the case, and confirms that every one of the union’s allegations relating to union-busting can proceed to trial.

The dates for the final hearing have now been shared, with the trial set to begin on the 10th of September and run to the 15th of October this year. The court case will conclude just over a month before the planned release of Grand Theft Auto VI on the 19th of November, expected to be one of the biggest video game launches in history.

Ellie Dunstan, one of the workers fired by Rockstar in October last year, said: “This ruling is a huge moment for us. Rockstar thought they could control the narrative. They're wrong, and we look forward to proving it. Our case will now be heard in full and put to the test as it should be. The world will get to see for itself the evidence as to what happened last October.

We loved our work at Rockstar. Losing our passion, our colleagues and our incomes in the blink of an eye was devastating, and the company management has treated us with disdain ever since, refusing to grant us appeals or respond to basic evidence requests. After months of fighting to have our voices heard, this is a moment to celebrate. The judgment shows that even against a company with Rockstar’s resources, workers can stand together and demand accountability

This fight has always been about more than just our own situation - it is about making sure workers across the games industry and beyond have the right to stand together, speak out, and organise for a fairer sector.”

Spring McParlin-Jones, Chair of the IWGB Game Workers Branch, said:

“This ruling is a major blow to Rockstar’s attempts to avoid scrutiny for its actions, and a major step forward in our fight for justice for our members. The tribunal has refused to let Rockstar off the hook, finding that serious factual questions remain about how these workers were identified, listed and dismissed - questions that must now be tested at a full hearing.

From the moment employees were escorted from their buildings without warning, and throughout every subsequent stage of the legal proceedings, Rockstar has attempted to avoid accountability - denying workers a fair hearing, failing to engage with basic evidence requests, and now attempting to limit scrutiny of the allegations brought against them. Gamers all over the world have seen through these tactics, and now a tribunal has also cast doubt on Rockstar’s version of events.

The decision strengthens our case at a critical time as we prepare for the final stage of this David versus Goliath legal battle, which could shape the future of union rights across the games industry and beyond. We’re asking gamers, workers and supporters the world over to make history with us by contributing towards our legal costs. In order to take on this multinational, multibillion pound corporation, we need as many people as possible - people who care about workers’ rights, people who care about the future of games - to unite behind us.”
ENDS

Donate to the Rockstar workers' fighting fund: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/support-rockstar-workers-fighting-unfair-dismissals

For more information please contact: Ellie Butcher on elliebutcher@iwgb.co.uk or 07883 887613, Clara Hill on clarahill@iwgb.co.uk or 07472 709745, or email press@iwgb.co.uk