220 Rockstar North Employees Call for Reinstatement
The controversy surrounding Rockstar Games continues to escalate following the termination of 31 Grand Theft Auto 6 developers over alleged “gross misconduct.” Now, 220 remaining staff members at Rockstar North have issued a joint letter demanding the immediate reinstatement of their former colleagues, adding a new layer of pressure to an already volatile situation.
According to the IWGB, the letter was formally submitted to company management on November 13. It represents one of the largest internal displays of dissent the studio has faced in recent years, highlighting growing frustration among employees following the dismissals.
Protests Continue in Multiple Cities
Public backlash has intensified in the weeks since the terminations, with the IWGB and the former employees organizing protests outside Rockstar North’s Edinburgh offices, as well as Take-Two Interactive locations in London and Paris. Additional protests are planned for November 18, though it remains unclear whether current Rockstar staff will join these demonstrations.
The call for reinstatement suggests that internal support for the fired employees is substantial, further complicating the ongoing conflict between management and staff.
Conflicting Claims Over the Discord Server
Rockstar Games maintains that the 31 terminated workers were dismissed for leaking confidential company information within a public Discord server that included non-employees. In contrast, the affected staff members claim the server was used solely for discussing unionization efforts.
This dispute has raised significant legal questions, especially as UK labor laws may come into play if the case escalates further. So far, no evidence has been presented in court to validate either side’s claims.
Uncertain Impact on GTA 6’s Development
The controversy comes at an especially sensitive time for Rockstar Games. GTA 6 has already faced multiple delays, and industry analysts warn that continued backlash, legal challenges, or government scrutiny could further disrupt development.
Some experts note that if the dispute expands into formal legal proceedings, Rockstar may face additional delays or other internal challenges that could affect the game’s planned rollout.
For now, the situation remains unresolved. The gaming community, legal observers, and industry professionals are watching closely to see whether Rockstar will respond to the internal demand for reinstatement—or whether the conflict will continue to intensify in the weeks ahead.
