The Rockstar Tribunal Opens in Glasgow — and Rockstar Says It Will Defend the Claims “Vigorously”

Confirmed that the hearing has started and that Rockstar made this statement, to IGN: “Rockstar Games’ position has been clear and consistent throughout. Individuals across the UK and Canada were dismissed for gross misconduct following the sharing of confidential company information, not because of alleged trade union membership or activity. We reject the claims and will defend them vigorously before the tribunal.”

The background: 34 staff were dismissed in October 2025, 31 in the UK and three in Canada. The IWGB union alleges they were blacklisted and targeted for union activity and fired without a disciplinary process or appeal. They want reinstatement or compensation, and a finding that the dismissals were unfair. Workers rallied outside on the first morning; “justice at last feels within reach,” said former employee Jason Lewis.

Rockstar’s written argument, as reported by the Press Association — one side’s submissions, not findings: it accessed a Discord channel, “Room C”, in mid-October 2025 and saw “300 plus people, including disgruntled ex-employees, competitors and a journalist”; it says claimants were “candidly referencing game features” and whether development was on schedule; and it told the tribunal that “in the last few weeks, a hacking group attempted to blackmail” the company. The claimants’ lawyers dispute that confidential information was shared.

The hearing is listed to end on October 16, about five weeks before launch. When a ruling will follow is not known.