Former GTA 6 Developers Address Rockstar Games Protest: “We Wanted to Complete Our Work”

Amid escalating tensions at Rockstar Games, recently terminated developers are voicing their concerns during ongoing protests. Many of these former staff members, who contributed to the development of GTA 6, have expressed a desire to complete their work on the much-anticipated title.

On November 1, 2025, Rockstar Games made headlines by dismissing 30 to 40 employees from its UK and Canada studios, labeling the actions as a response to “gross misconduct.” This mass firing sparked outrage and accusations of union-busting tactics.

According to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain has alleged that these terminations aimed to obstruct ongoing unionization efforts. In a subsequent response, Rockstar clarified that those who were laid off were specifically accused of leaking confidential company information.“This was in no way related to people’s right to join a union or engage in union activities, ” a company spokesperson insisted.

Developers Speak Out Against Termination

The fallout from this incident has led to protests outside Rockstar’s Edinburgh office, where developers, including those from other nearby studios, are voicing their displeasure. Notably, People Make Games covered the protests, capturing testimonials from those affected. One developer lamented, “We just wanted to finish what we were working on.”

People Make Games has interviewed impacted employees at Rockstar North. One developer says they may not be able find future career prospects in the gaming industry due to having gross misconduct on record. Please support the video by watching: https://t.co/AfHlHEPwRo pic.twitter.com/9uNSZc3LfE

— ben (@videotechuk_) November 11, 2025

Reflections from the employees paint a picture of shock and disbelief. One developer, who spent nearly a decade with Rockstar, shared, “I was not even allowed to say goodbye. I was in complete shock.” Many are weighing the long-term implications of having “gross misconduct” on their records, which could severely limit future opportunities within the gaming industry. Another developer characterized their emotional response to the firings as a grieving process.

A total of 31 individuals in the UK and 3 in Toronto were impacted, according to reports from People Make Games. The overwhelming sentiment among those affected is a desire to return to their posts and continue development on the eagerly awaited GTA sequel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9nOwjeznjI

The Rockstar Workers Fired Before They Could Finish GTA 6 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9nOwjeznjI)

As the situation unfolds, the next steps depend on an ongoing legal claim made by the affected workers.“These are individuals who simply want to go back to work on a game they love, ” observed a representative from the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain.

The announcement of these firings coincided with a second delay for GTA 6, which is now scheduled for release on November 19, 2026. This launch is anticipated to be the largest entertainment release in history, heightening concerns among remaining developers regarding potential further delays.

Source & Images