Several employees at the creators of the popular Grand Theft Auto video games were unexpectedly terminated, as revealed by one of the Canadian workers who was part of the layoffs last fall.
One of the dismissed game developers from Rockstar Toronto in Oakville, Ontario, expressed shock, stating, “I was completely unaware of the situation. I was taken by surprise.” The individual preferred not to be identified by CBC News to avoid potential repercussions such as being barred from future employment in the gaming sector.
On the same day, thirty-one Rockstar employees in the U.K. faced termination. Rockstar Games, with studios mainly in the U.S. and U.K., cited “gross misconduct” and breaching confidentiality agreements as reasons for the dismissals, alleging that the employees leaked company secrets.
President Alex Marshall of the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) condemned the terminations as “one of the most explicit and severe cases of union suppression in the gaming industry’s history.”
The incident has sparked conversations about unionization in an industry known for resisting such efforts, despite reports of employee burnout due to excessive unpaid overtime and numerous layoffs in recent times.
According to the affected employee, the termination process on October 30 at Rockstar Toronto involved three workers individually meeting with HR personnel and being informed of their dismissal for violating a non-disclosure agreement mandated for all employees.
Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar’s parent company, was contacted by CBC News for comments on the Canadian employees’ terminations but did not respond.
Representatives from the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Canada, including Nasr Ahmed, disputed Rockstar’s claims of leaked confidential information, emphasizing the lack of evidence provided for these allegations.
Ahmed supported claims that the terminated workers, both in Canada and the U.K., participated in an online discussion group on Discord, focusing on industry working conditions and unionization.
The former employee highlighted that the terminated workers were from various departments and had different seniority levels, with their common link being membership in the Discord group. The individual emphasized that discussing working conditions is not illegal in Canada or the U.K.
The events surrounding the Rockstar firings have raised concerns about the industry’s resistance to unionization and the potential consequences for employees advocating for better working conditions.
Efforts towards unionization have been witnessed in other studios, including Id Software and Ubisoft Halifax, indicating a growing trend among game developers to seek collective representation.
The former Rockstar employee expressed hope for future unionization in the gaming industry, citing a desire for improved working conditions and a belief in the company’s willingness to prioritize employee welfare.
The article also touched upon the history of overtime practices in the gaming industry, specifically referencing Rockstar’s past scrutiny for prolonged work hours during game development.
As the industry navigates discussions on labor rights and unionization, the terminated workers from Rockstar in Canada and the U.K. remain hopeful for reinstatement, underscoring their dedication to their craft and the desire to contribute to creating exceptional gaming experiences.