Rockstar Games Denies Tracking Union Members as GTA 6 Firing Dispute Reaches Tribunal- Rockstar Games, the developer behind the Grand Theft Auto franchise, has denied allegations that it attempted to monitor employees’ trade union activities as an employment tribunal examines the dismissal of dozens of workers in October 2025.
Rob Spampinato, the company’s vice-president of human resources, told the tribunal that claims management tried to identify and target union activists were “completely untrue”. He acknowledged that Rockstar wanted to stay informed about collective workplace grievances but rejected suggestions that it was attempting to suppress union organising.
The case concerns the dismissal of 34 employees, most of whom worked at Rockstar North, the company’s flagship development studio in Edinburgh. A group of 23 former staff members is challenging the decision, arguing that they were unfairly dismissed because of their involvement in trade union activities. They are represented by the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB).
Rockstar maintains that the dismissals were prompted by the sharing of confidential company information in a private Discord server, which it considers a serious breach of workplace rules. The former employees dispute the company’s explanation, making the circumstances surrounding the investigation a central issue in the tribunal proceedings.
During his testimony, Spampinato was questioned about information provided to the human resources department concerning discussions among employees, including reports relating to union meetings and recruitment efforts. The evidence raised questions about whether management was gathering information to track union activity or responding to concerns about confidential material.
Spampinato said the company wanted to keep abreast of collective grievances but denied instructing colleagues to keep tabs on union membership. The tribunal will examine the evidence to determine whether the company’s actions were justified and whether trade union activity played a role in the dismissals.
The proceedings have also focused on discussions within the private Discord server. Evidence presented at the tribunal reportedly referred to 722 posts across 109 discussion threads that were cited in the allegations against the employees. The company argued that the material raised concerns about confidential information being shared outside approved channels.
The handling of that information has become another point of scrutiny, including how the material reached senior HR staff and how it was used during the investigation. The dispute highlights the challenges companies face when protecting sensitive business information while respecting employees’ rights to organise collectively.
The timing of the dismissals has also come under examination. Spampinato described Rockstar as being in “crisis mode” while it dealt with decisions surrounding the development and release schedule of Grand Theft Auto VI. His testimony placed the employment dispute against the backdrop of pressure surrounding one of the gaming industry’s most closely watched projects.
Rockstar has previously experienced major security problems. In 2022, a cyberattack resulted in footage from an early version of GTA 6 being leaked online, exposing development material before the company was ready to release it. That incident provides context for the importance Rockstar places on confidentiality, although it does not determine whether the dismissals in this case were lawful.
The tribunal proceedings come as Rockstar prepares for the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI, which is scheduled for November 2026. The game is expected to be a major commercial release, bringing additional attention to the company and its workplace practices.
The former employees are seeking to establish that their dismissals were unfair and connected to their trade union activities. Rockstar continues to defend its decision on the grounds of alleged misconduct involving confidential information.
The tribunal’s findings will determine how the competing claims stand up to the evidence. The case could also draw wider attention to workers’ rights and the treatment of union organising within the video game industry, where strict confidentiality requirements often surround major development projects.
