Take-Two boss “not in the least” concerned bad press around Rockstar’s employment tribunal will affect GTA 6 launch
Take-Two chief executive Strauss Zelnick says he is “not in the least” worried that negative publicity surrounding an employment tribunal involving Rockstar will harm the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6. The dispute concerns allegations of union-busting after 31 Rockstar North employees in Edinburgh, all reportedly members of the IWGB Game Workers Union, were dismissed for alleged gross misconduct; it matters because it raises questions about labour practices at the studio behind one of the industry’s most anticipated releases.
Zelnick said Take-Two was proud of its labour relations, citing a workforce of 13,000 and claiming company attrition is half the industry rate, with Rockstar’s lower still. A new Rockstar Game Workers Union has reportedly gained members amid the dispute, which has been raised in Parliament; the tribunal is due to begin on 10 September, while GTA 6 is expected to be a major commercial success.
- Take-Two dismisses concerns over GTA 6 launch damage.
- Rockstar faces union-busting allegations over 31 dismissals.
- Employment tribunal is scheduled to start on 10 September.
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Rockstar North is Rockstar Games’ Edinburgh studio, part of Take-Two Interactive, the company that publishes the Grand Theft Auto series. Grand Theft Auto 6 is a forthcoming entry in the long-running series, which is known for large open worlds and has a global audience.
The dispute centres on the dismissal of 31 Rockstar North employees, who were reportedly members of the IWGB Game Workers Union. The employees allege the dismissals were linked to union activity; Rockstar has said they were dismissed for gross misconduct. The case has drawn attention to workplace relations and union organising in the games industry.
The tribunal could examine the circumstances of the dismissals, while the dispute has also been raised in Parliament. It matters to workers and employers in the sector, and has attracted wider interest because of the studio’s role in a highly anticipated game.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Take-Two's leadership argues that the company maintains strong labour relations with notably low workforce attrition compared to industry standards, and that the disputed dismissals were based on alleged gross misconduct rather than union activity. They contend that a game's commercial success should rest primarily on its quality and consumer appeal, not on peripheral employment disputes, and that negative publicity will not overshadow GTA 6's anticipated market performance.
The case against
Labour advocates and union representatives argue that the coordinated dismissal of employees shortly after union organising activity constitutes unlawful retaliation against workers exercising their rights to collective representation. They maintain that public concern about labour practices is entirely legitimate and reflects genuine consumer values regarding corporate ethics, and that a company's reputation for worker treatment meaningfully influences how people perceive and support major commercial releases.