Fired GTA 6 Devs Are Protesting Outside Rockstar Games

Less than a week after dozens of staff members working on the development of the highly-anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 were abruptly fired, multiple reports are showing in-person protests being held outside Rockstar Games’ company offices. Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar’s parent company, formally declared that the team members were terminated due to “gross misconduct,” but the now-former staff and even local government bodies accuse the Grand Theft Auto 6 studio of union busting, prompting protests by the dismissed employees.

The Rockstar Games staff firings were originally announced on October 30, 2025, with an estimated 30 to 40 staffers impacted. Early reactions ranged from shock by audiences, who now fear another potential delay to GTA 6, to anger from the affected staff claiming foul play. The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has already chimed in on the matter, siding with the former staff, as the affected employees were all either union members or discussing unionization just before the surprise oustings. While Take-Two remains adamant that the union-busting allegations are false, the fired employees insist that they have been mistreated and are organizing to make their voices heard.

Fired GTA 6 Developers Protests Against Rockstar Games

According to a local media outlet in Edinburgh, Scotland, “former staff have protested outside” the Rockstar North office building on Monday, November 3, and Tuesday, November, 4. A local citizen noted on Reddit that “a small crowd holding banners” could be seen outside the Rockstar headquarters on November 4, though an exact number of participants was not shared. The official Instagram account for UCU Edinburgh announced another protest scheduled for November 6, which will be coordinated with the IWGB, and states that the demonstration will be held “to demand the workers are reinstated.” It is presently unclear if the release date of Grand Theft Auto 6 or any other projects by the Rockstar teams in Edinburgh will be affected by the firings or if more terminations may be on the way.

SAG-AFTRA, one of the largest entertainment unions that represents performers, including some who served as voice actors for GTA 6, also shared support for the terminated Rockstar staffers’ protests, adding to the rising tensions and questions among governing bodies. At the time of writing, neither Rockstar Games nor Take-Two Interactive have officially commented on the protests, though many are expecting an announcement of some sort to come with the scheduled November 6 protest.

Hunters with rifles in Grand Theft Auto 6

The Rockstar firings are not the first to raise eyebrows among industry personnel and general audiences, with several major companies from Embracer Group to Microsoft and Amazon announcing significant layoffs. However, layoffs with severance options differ drastically from immediate termination with no benefits or residual payouts, in terms of legal ramifications. Whether the fired Rockstar Games staff will pursue litigation remains to be seen, but the looming tensions surrounding the Grand Theft Auto 6 studio may be worth keeping a tentative eye on.