In a rare glimpse behind the curtain at one of gaming’s most secretive studios, a verified Rockstar North employee has gone public with a scathing account of conditions inside the company following the recent mass firings. Posting anonymously on GTAForums under the username “Organize,” the developer painted a picture of a workplace gripped by fear, distrust, and plummeting morale just as the studio is supposed to be entering the final stretch of development on the most anticipated video game in history.
How the Firings Went Down
According to the anonymous employee, whose identity was verified by GTAForums moderators, the terminations on October 30 were handled with brutal efficiency. Developers were called into short HR meetings with no warning, handed a termination letter citing “gross misconduct” with zero explanation, and then immediately escorted out of the building. The entire process took minutes. Some employees who weren’t physically in the office that day received a two-minute phone call informing them they’d been fired, with one reportedly suffering a panic attack on the spot.
The poster claims that several of those terminated were on sick leave, recovering from surgery, or on paternity leave when they got the news. Even more concerning, they allege that Rockstar refused to allow the fired employees access to union representation during the termination meetings, which violates UK employment law. Some of the dismissed staff had been with Rockstar for over 18 years and had never received any disciplinary action before. The timing couldn’t have been worse, coming right before the holiday season when finding new employment becomes significantly harder.
The Union Busting Allegations
Rockstar’s official explanation is that these employees were fired for sharing confidential company information in a public Discord server. However, the anonymous insider tells a completely different story. According to their account, the Discord channel in question was a private trade union organizing space where employees discussed working conditions and their legal rights to form a union. No confidential information about GTA 6 or any other Rockstar projects was ever shared in that channel, they claim.
The critical detail that supports the union busting theory is that every single person fired was either an active union member or serving on union organizing committees at Rockstar’s UK studios. The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain has been pushing to organize game industry workers, and Rockstar employees were among those discussing collective bargaining rights. IWGB President Alex Marshall called the firings “one of the most blatant and ruthless acts of union busting in the history of the games industry.”
Morale Has Collapsed
The anonymous employee didn’t hold back when describing the current atmosphere inside Rockstar’s studios. “Morale in the studio is at rock bottom,” they wrote. “When we should be excited about what’s to come over the next year we are now totally deflated and our trust and confidence in others is totally shot.” Remaining staff members are reportedly too scared to talk to one another or even acknowledge the protesters who gathered outside Rockstar’s Edinburgh and London offices following the terminations.
Think about that for a second. You’re working on what could be the biggest entertainment launch in human history. GTA 6 is projected to shatter all sales records and generate billions in revenue. You should be energized and proud to be part of something historic. Instead, people are walking around terrified they’ll be next on the chopping block if they say the wrong thing to the wrong person. That’s not a healthy creative environment, and it certainly doesn’t inspire the kind of work that Rockstar claims to value.
Could GTA 6 Be Delayed Again?
Here’s where things get really interesting. The anonymous poster warned that Rockstar’s ability to hit the newly announced November 2026 release date has been seriously compromised by losing senior developers in critical roles. Some of the terminated employees were leads and senior artists with nearly two decades of institutional knowledge about how Rockstar operates. You can’t just replace that expertise overnight, no matter how many junior developers you throw at the problem.
GTA 6 has already been delayed twice. It was originally supposed to drop in fall 2025, then got pushed to May 2026, and now sits at November 19, 2026. Each delay has been framed as Rockstar taking the necessary time to deliver the polish fans expect. But if the insider’s account is accurate, the studio just shot itself in the foot by firing experienced staff right when it needs every capable hand working efficiently. The irony is almost painful.
The Bigger Picture at Rockstar
This isn’t the first time Rockstar has faced accusations about its workplace culture. The studio is infamous for crunch, with reports during Red Dead Redemption 2’s development revealing some employees worked 100-hour weeks in the final months before launch. Co-founder Dan Houser’s casual mention of those brutal hours sparked industry-wide backlash and forced Rockstar to do damage control by allowing employees to speak publicly about their experiences.
In early 2024, Rockstar mandated that all employees return to the office five days a week, partly citing security concerns after the massive 2022 leak that exposed unfinished GTA 6 footage. The union called that move “reckless,” and it’s worth noting that remote work has been linked to improved work-life balance and reduced burnout in tech industries. Forcing people back into offices full-time right when you’re ramping up for a major release screams “we want maximum control over you” rather than genuine concern about productivity or security.
The Protests and Legal Battles
On November 6, dozens of people protested outside Rockstar North in Edinburgh and Take-Two’s London headquarters. The IWGB is pursuing legal action seeking reinstatement and interim relief for the fired employees. Among those terminated were workers on company-sponsored visas who now face potential deportation, and employees with medical conditions who will lose access to workplace healthcare. The human cost of these firings extends far beyond just losing a job.
UK employment law provides stronger worker protections than many other countries, which means Rockstar could face serious legal consequences if the courts determine the firings were actually retaliation for union activity rather than legitimate misconduct. The fact that the termination letters provided no specific reasons for the “gross misconduct” allegations will likely be a central issue in any legal proceedings.
What Take-Two Is Saying
Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar’s parent company, released a statement saying they were in “full support” of Rockstar’s decision and that the terminations were due to “gross negligence.” Rockstar’s official line is that employees were “distributing and discussing confidential information in a public forum” and that it “was in no way related to people’s right to join a union or engage in union activities.” They’re sticking to that story despite the mounting evidence that every single fired employee had union connections.
During Take-Two’s earnings call where the GTA 6 delay was announced, CEO Strauss Zelnick said the company remains “confident that Rockstar will deliver an unrivalled blockbuster entertainment experience.” When asked what changed since he previously expressed confidence in the fall 2025 date, he credited having more development time and praised Rockstar for “constantly seeking perfection.” There was no mention of how firing dozens of experienced developers might impact that quest for perfection.
FAQs
Who posted the anonymous message about Rockstar?
A verified Rockstar North employee posted anonymously on GTAForums under the username “Organize.” Their employment was confirmed by forum moderators, though their real identity remains protected.
How many employees did Rockstar fire?
Between 30 and 40 employees were terminated from Rockstar’s UK and Canadian offices on October 30, 2025, with reports indicating 31 from UK studios specifically.
Why did Rockstar say they fired these employees?
Rockstar claims the employees were sharing confidential company information in a public Discord forum, which they say violated company policy and constituted gross misconduct.
What does the union say actually happened?
The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain claims all fired employees were union members or organizers, and the Discord channel was a private union organizing space where no confidential information was shared.
Could GTA 6 be delayed again?
The anonymous employee suggested that losing senior staff in critical roles could affect Rockstar’s ability to meet the November 2026 deadline, though no official announcement has been made.
When is GTA 6 currently scheduled to release?
GTA 6 is now scheduled to release on November 19, 2026, after being delayed from its original fall 2025 window and then from May 2026.
What is crunch culture at Rockstar?
Crunch refers to extended mandatory overtime periods, often including nights and weekends. Rockstar has been accused of extreme crunch practices, with some employees reporting 100-hour work weeks during Red Dead Redemption 2 development.
Are there protests happening at Rockstar offices?
Yes, protests were held on November 6, 2025, outside Rockstar North in Edinburgh and Take-Two’s London office, organized by the IWGB and supporters of the fired workers.
Is Rockstar facing legal action over the firings?
The IWGB has announced plans to pursue legal remedies seeking reinstatement and interim relief for affected union members, claiming the firings violated UK employment law.
Conclusion
The anonymous post from inside Rockstar North pulls back the curtain on a studio in crisis at the worst possible time. Just when the team should be unified and energized about delivering one of the most anticipated games ever made, they’re instead dealing with fear, suspicion, and collapsed morale. Whether you believe Rockstar’s explanation about leaks or the union’s accusation of retaliation, one thing is undeniable: firing dozens of experienced developers less than a year before your flagship product launches is a risky move that could have serious consequences. The gaming industry has a long history of treating workers as disposable, and this situation at Rockstar is shaping up to be one of the most high-profile examples yet. For the remaining employees still working on GTA 6, they’re caught between the pressure to deliver perfection and the knowledge that their employer just demonstrated how quickly anyone can be walked out the door with no explanation. That’s not a recipe for the creative excellence Rockstar claims to prioritize.