One year before its release, GTA 6 no longer makes its developers dream. Behind the closed doors of Rockstar’s studios, the euphoria of a historic launch gives way to fear, silence, and brutal layoffs. On November 6, the publisher announced a new postponement of the game. The next day, an employee spoke under a pseudonym to denounce a real reprisal operation against union members.
A decisive year is off to a bad start for the American studio. Now scheduled for November 19, 2026, the new part of Grand Theft Auto is expected to be the biggest launch in video game history. But behind the scenes tells a different story.
An incendiary testimony in the middle of a storm
It was on a forum frequented by the Rockstar community that an employee, whose identity was verified by the moderators, spoke. In a long message published following the announcement of the postponement, he described a climate of extreme tension and layoffs that he described as targeted.
“During this meeting, they received an envelope containing a short letter indicating that their employment contract was terminated for serious misconduct regarding messages published on Discord,” he explains.
According to his testimony, more than 30 employees were fired without any proof being presented to them. “The company provided no evidence when asked, and none was mentioned in the letter. It released no further information or explanation – and no other reason.”
What the message also reveals is the total absence of a compliant procedure: no prepared interview, no authorized union representation, and often hasty announcements. “She denied them the right to be represented by a union during the disciplinary interview (which is contrary to UK employment law) and escorted them out of the studio, the meeting lasting less than 5 minutes.”
Private discord and the hunt for union activists
Behind the official grounds of “serious misconduct”, another reality emerges. The Discord server in question, according to the source, was not public and only hosted Rockstar employees and representatives of the IWGB union. No content related to the company’s projects would have been shared there.
“Let me be clear! I have never seen any discussions or information leaks regarding Rockstar’s plans on the Syndicate Discord.”
The message accuses management of having targeted exclusively active members of the union. “It was an attempt to break the union, nothing more, nothing less,” he says. “All those made redundant were members of the union and belonged predominantly to the union organizing committees at each UK studio.”
The concern is all the greater as the union had just reached a key threshold, with nearly 200 members – enough to initiate official negotiations with management. Among the demands: reduction of the crunch, increase in salaries, flexibility of hours and teleworking.
18 year olds fired by phone
The brutality of the methods used is shocking. Several employees who had been in office for more than a decade were unceremoniously dismissed. “Some have been with Rockstar for over 18 years and none of them have ever had a disciplinary issue. They are irreplaceable and their departure will certainly impact our project deadlines.”
For those who were not present at the studio, HR proceeded by telephone. “I know one employee had a panic attack at that point, and HR hung up on him with no concern for his well-being.”
This type of practice, particularly violent in a creative environment, leaves deep traces. The author of the testimony evokes an atmosphere that is now undermined: fear of speaking, of finding yourself in the hot seat, or even of meeting a former colleague outside.
“Morale is at an all-time low within the studio. While we should be excited about what awaits us next year, we are completely demoralized and our trust in others is completely destroyed.”
A high-risk postponement
The decision to postpone GTA 6 of several months has already caused a shock wave in the community, and skepticism among certain investors. But the revelations surrounding the layoffs could damage Rockstar’s reputation more permanently.
If the production of the game was already under pressure, the loss of so many experienced collaborators, particularly in key positions, raises fears of new delays or quality problems. Far from the image of a studio in control of its destiny, Rockstar seems to falter at the very moment when it should shine.
As the release of GTA 6 approach, the game will perhaps no longer be judged only on its graphics or its gameplay, but also on what it represents: a product released from a studio shaken by an unprecedented social crisis.