Fired GTA 6 developers speak out amid Rockstar Games protest, as they “wanted to finish” the game

Former developers from Rockstar Games have spoken publicly for the first time since being dismissed earlier this month, as protests continue outside the company’s offices in Edinburgh and Toronto.

Many of the affected developers worked on Grand Theft Auto VI, with several stating they “wanted to finish what we were working on.”

On November 1 2025, Rockstar Games terminated between 30 and 40 employees across its UK and Canada studios, citing “gross misconduct.” The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain claimed the dismissals were intended to prevent unionisation efforts within the company.

Rockstar later issued a statement denying this, saying the terminations were “in no way related to people’s right to join a union or engage in union activities.”

Independent media outlet People Make Games attended the ongoing protests, interviewing several former employees. One developer told reporters, “I was not even allowed to say goodbye. I was in complete shock. Shocked that the company which I had given so much of my labour, my passion, my creativity, my care, myself, would kick me out the door so aggressively.”

Another former employee expressed concern about future employment, noting that a record of “gross misconduct” could severely limit job prospects in the gaming industry.

Jordan, a developer who worked at Rockstar for 11 years, described the situation as “going through the stages of grief,” adding, “We thought we could build a better workplace.”

The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain has confirmed that a legal claim has been filed, seeking the reinstatement of affected workers. GTA 6 is still scheduled for release on November 19 2026, though reports suggest remaining developers fear further delays following the firings.