GTA VI studio Rockstar fights unfair sacking claim

Rockstar Games, the studio behind Grand Theft Auto VI, is fighting an unfair dismissal claim brought by 23 former UK employees at a Scottish employment tribunal that began hearing the case on Thursday.

Rockstar said 31 UK employees and three staff in Canada were fired in October for allegedly sharing confidential information on Discord. The company said they were dismissed for gross misconduct, not because of alleged trade union membership or activity.

The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain is seeking reinstatement or compensation for the UK-based former staff. The union says the workers were targeted because of union activity and that the dismissals were illegal because there were no disciplinary procedures or right of appeal.

In opening arguments seen by AFP, Rockstar said nearly 350 people were taking part in the Discord forum, including disgruntled former employees, competitors and a journalist known for critical articles about the franchise. The company alleged some members made insulting comments about management and that others mentioned security protocols, GTA VI's development status and game features.

Rockstar said GTA VI was “one of the most closely guarded secrets of the company” and that it was “hypersensitive” and “hypervigilant” about leaks before the game's release.

Lawyers for the claimants said the Discord exchanges took place on a secure, private, invite-only platform for Rockstar employees and IWGB representatives, not in public. They alleged the company was secretly monitoring the chat through two moles who passed information to its human resources director.

Lloyd Knott, one of the claimants who worked on GTA VI's visual effects, told AFP in Glasgow that he felt union membership had put “a target” on workers' backs. Branimira Yordanova, a former lighting artist, said her sacking had left her worried about losing her home.

About 40 people gathered outside the Glasgow tribunal carrying banners denouncing “union busting”. The hearing is scheduled to last until October 16.

The case comes before the planned November 19 launch of GTA VI. The Grand Theft Auto series has sold more than 470 million copies worldwide since the 1997 original. Rockstar operates UK sites including Lincoln, Dundee and Edinburgh, where GTA VI was developed. The three Canadian employees dismissed at the same time are not covered by the proceedings.