Rockstar Games says dozens of employees fired for gross misconduct “distributed and discussed confidential information in a public forum, in violation of company policy and their legal obligations.”
Last month we learned that Grand Theft Auto giant Rockstar recent layoff of 31 employees For “gross violation” was reportedly prompted by an external discussion about the studio's policies regarding Slack.
According to People make gamesThe employees were fired after discussing changes to the company's Slack rules on an invite-only Discord server. This private forum was created in 2022 for Rockstar members who have expressed an interest in unions, and was attended by representatives from the Independent Workers UK (IWGB). Discussions between representatives and union members took place over secure channels, but there was a common channel used by both union members and non-union employees.
Now in a new statement IGNRockstar said: “Rockstar Games has taken action against a small group of individuals across the UK and overseas who have been distributing and discussing confidential information (including specific game features from upcoming and unannounced games) in a public forum, in violation of company policy and their legal obligations. “Claims that these terminations were related to union membership or activity are completely false and misleading.”
In a separate statement sent to IGN this week, MP Chris Murray, who as local MP for Rockstar North raised the issue in Parliament, prompted a comment from the British Prime Minister – said he contacted Rockstar directly to discuss the matter with fellow Edinburgh MPs Tracey Gilbert and Scott Arthur at the Rockstar North offices, and the meeting almost didn't happen when ministers refused to sign Rockstar's non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
“The meeting started with us when deputies refused to enter until a non-disclosure agreement was signed, and they ultimately withdrew that request after it became clear that it would not be signed,” Murray said.
“The meeting only heightened my concerns about the process Rockstar used to fire so many of its employees. “I was not convinced that their trial paid close attention to UK employment law, I was not convinced that this course of action was necessary and, worryingly, I did not come away informed as to what exactly these 31 people had done to justify their immediate dismissal.”
When asked to comment, Take-Two declined to add anything new to statements he made previously on this issue. The IWGB union has since said Rockstar is union busting. when it fired the affected employees (the company denies this) and filed a wrongful termination case against the Grand Theft Auto giant. More than 200 Rockstar North employees have signed a letter asking for the affected workers to be reinstated.Bye Affected employees held protests in London and Edinburgh.
