UK MPs claim GTA 6 studio Rockstar "refused to properly engage with staff" during legal wranglings over dev firings

Employees let go by Rockstar last year were denied interim relief in January, but the wider case rumbles on

Several UK politicians have called on Rockstar Games to be more transparent and co-operative in their legal dealings with GTA 6 developers fired last year. The staff were let go in autumn last year, with Rockstar subsequently claiming that they were fired due to the leaking of "confidential information" via a public forum, while the IWGB Game Workers Union have accused Rockstar of union busting.

With legal matters between Rockstar and union over the firings currently ongoing, several UK MPs have called on the former to be more transparent and accused the company of having "refused to properly engage with staff, representatives and trade unions throughout this process".

As reported by IGN and Eurogamer, Edinburgh MPs Chris Murray, Tracy Gilbert, and Dr. Scott Arthur have all issued statements in support of the IWGB's push for Rockstar to be more open and forthcoming in the legal proceedings between the two. The union claim Rockstar have "failed to cooperate with basic disclosure requests, refused to provide evidence in full and investigation reports, and denied workers their right of appeal".

"From my first meeting with constituents impacted by Rockstar's mass dismissal, I have held concerns with both the handling and motivation behind this action," Murray, the MP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh, said. "I made my concerns clear during prime minister's questions, resulting in an ongoing ministerial investigation initiated by the prime minister.

"Constituents have lost their jobs, their income, with one constituent even forced to leave the country due to the removal of their visa sponsor. During a recent meeting with a constituent they explained Rockstar's justification for their dismissal has varied throughout this process. Rockstar must answer this case with transparency and full cooperation and uphold the right to appeal."

Edinburgh North and Leith MP Gilbert, meanwhile, said that it's "extremely disappointing that Rockstar has refused to properly engage with staff, representatives and trade unions throughout this process. Workers asking for fairness, transparency and respect should not be met with silence and closed doors, especially when livelihoods and workplace rights are at stake." Arthur, MP for Edinburgh South West, added that the company must "cooperate fully and transparently with any investigations into alleged union busting and ensure that both dismissed and current employees are treated fairly and with respect".

I've reached out to Rockstar for comment.

Earlier this year, the fired staff weren't granted interim relief which would have seen them be put back on Rockstar’s payroll and have any cancelled work visas reinstated while the case awaits a full hearing. As of writing, that full hearing remains yet to take place. In the meantime, a report from People Make Games has delved deeper into what led to the firings, alleging that they followed a Discord discussion which cited emails about changes to the company's internal Slack policies.