Rockstar UK staff vote on union recognition as GTA 6 launches
If the ballot passes, the Rockstar Game Workers Union would become the largest recognised union in the UK games industry.
Rockstar Games staff at its UK studios are set to vote on recognising the Rockstar Game Workers Union, a branch of the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain, from 12 to 26 November 2026. The ballot falls just before Grand Theft Auto VI launches on 19 November, and would make the union the largest recognised one in the UK games industry if it passes. Separately, an employment tribunal over Rockstar's October 2025 dismissal of more than 30 employees, most of them union members or organisers, has been extended, with closing arguments set for 17 or 18 November. Rockstar says the staff were fired for sharing confidential information, while the union argues the dismissals amount to union-busting. Workers say they want a voice on pay, overtime, layoffs, flexible working and generative AI policy.
Why it matters
The vote and the tribunal both bear on how a major games studio handles organised labour. Rockstar says it will accept a union if staff want one, while the union argues the October 2025 dismissals of more than 30 employees, most of them union members or organisers, were union-busting and the company says they were fired for sharing confidential information. The outcome of the ballot and the tribunal will show whether that position holds in practice. Workers are seeking a voice on pay, overtime, layoffs, flexible working and generative AI policy, so the result could shape how these decisions are made at Rockstar's UK studios.
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