With the release of GTA 6 approaching, Rockstar Games is navigating legal proceedings that indirectly involve the game’s development yet carry major importance for the company. Since September 10, 2026, a Glasgow labor court has heard a case over the dismissal of 31 employees. The IWGB alleges unlawful dismissals and discrimination against union members, while Rockstar insists the employees were fired for mishandling confidential information.
The IWGB says these developers were working on Grand Theft Auto 6 when Rockstar dismissed them in October 2025. The final hearing could last several weeks and may extend into mid-October.
Union Levels Serious Allegations Against Rockstar
The union alleges that Rockstar targeted these employees for their union activities, including alleged blacklisting and discrimination based on those activities.
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The IWGB also claims the dismissals skipped standard disciplinary procedures and denied appeal rights. Rockstar denies these allegations.
Rockstar insists the firings had nothing to do with union membership or the right to organize and says the employees shared confidential information in a forum or Discord group, violating company policy and their legal duties.
The two sides disagree on this key point.
The dispute centers on that Discord group. Rockstar calls the channel public and notes that non-employees joined. The company also claims that participants discussed features of unannounced games.
The IWGB insists the channel was private and that the group existed only to organize workers and discuss conditions. The tribunal must now decide which version of events is legally valid and whether the firings were lawful.
The union’s allegations do not prove misconduct by Rockstar, and the proceedings will determine the truth.
Rockstar has already suffered a setback
The tribunal has already issued an important preliminary ruling. Before the current main hearing began, Rockstar asked the court to dismiss some of the IWGB’s blacklisting claims. In June 2026, the tribunal denied that motion. As a result, those claims will remain part of the final hearing. 
However, the tribunal has not yet ruled in favor of the former employees. The earlier decision only determined which claims could proceed. Whether Rockstar actually acted unlawfully will be decided during the ongoing proceedings.
Trial to Run Until Shortly Before GTA 6
The timing is likely to draw even more attention. The hearing began on September 10 and, according to the IWGB, is scheduled to last until October 16. GTA 6 is set to launch on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. There is currently no proven connection between the proceedings and the development schedule for GTA 6.
The fact that 31 of the affected employees previously worked on the game does not automatically mean the legal dispute will delay the launch, and Rockstar has not announced any delay. The case’s significance extends beyond GTA 6. At stake are labor law issues and how major game companies treat unionized employees.
The tribunal will now resolve the allegations.
Over the next few weeks, the tribunal will hear testimony and review evidence from both sides. The IWGB plans to show that Rockstar discriminated against and wrongfully fired the employees for their union activities, while Rockstar will probably argue that the dismissals stemmed from confidentiality concerns and had nothing to do with union membership.
A dispute that has played out in public since late 2025 is now becoming a full-scale legal proceeding.
Until the court rules, the allegations and Rockstar’s responses remain each side’s positions. The timing is sensitive for Rockstar: GTA 6, the studio’s most significant new release, is scheduled to launch just weeks after the hearing ends. Share your thoughts in the comments.
