Rockstar accused of blocking investigation into alleged union busting after GTA 6 studio firings

Rockstar Games is facing fresh pressure from Scottish MPs over the firing of 34 employees, as an investigation into alleged union busting continues.

The dispute began last year, shortly before GTA 6 was officially delayed to November 2026. Rockstar was accused of firing 34 workers, including 31 in the UK and three at Rockstar Toronto in Canada. The Independent Workers of Great Britain union says the dismissals were connected to union activity.

Rockstar and the IWGB have been locked in a legal fight since then. The case has also drawn political attention in the UK, including from Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Now, MPs involved in the matter are accusing Rockstar of failing to cooperate properly. According to the IWGB, Rockstar has not met basic disclosure requests, has refused to provide full evidence and investigation reports, and has denied workers their right to appeal.

Scottish Labour MP Chris Murray said he has had concerns from the beginning about both the way the dismissals were handled and the motivation behind them. He also said one affected constituent lost their visa sponsor and was forced to leave the country after losing their job.

Murray said Rockstar needs to answer the case with transparency, full cooperation, and a proper appeal process.

Other Scottish MPs also criticized the company’s handling of the dispute. Edinburgh North and Leith MP Tracy Gilbert said workers asking for fairness, transparency, and respect should not be met with silence and closed doors. Edinburgh South West MP Dr. Scott Arthur said Rockstar must cooperate fully with investigations into the alleged union busting and treat current and former employees fairly.

Here is the current picture:

IWGB president Alex Marshall described Rockstar’s behavior as “corporate legal stonewalling.” He said the union has repeatedly asked for in person meetings and full evidence behind the dismissals, but claims Rockstar has not properly cooperated.

Marshall also said Rockstar’s explanations have shifted during the process, which he argues strengthens the union’s belief that the firings were connected to organizing activity.

The dispute is serious because Rockstar is one of the most powerful studios in the games industry. GTA 6 is expected to be one of the biggest entertainment launches ever, but the company is also facing criticism over working conditions, labor rights, and transparency.

For the fired workers, the case is about more than one game. It is about income, visas, appeals, and whether employees can organize without fear of retaliation.

For Rockstar, the longer the dispute continues, the more it risks becoming part of the public conversation around GTA 6. The game’s launch will already bring enormous attention, and allegations of union busting could become harder to ignore if MPs, unions, and former employees keep pressing the issue.

For now, Rockstar has not been cleared of the allegations, and the legal and political scrutiny is still ongoing. The key demand from MPs and the union is simple: provide the evidence, cooperate with the process, and give the dismissed workers a fair chance to appeal.