An insider claimed that the layoffs at Rockstar were not related to the GTA 6 leaks, but to a discussion about working conditions

The recent layoffs of part of the Grand Theft Auto 6 team have taken a new turn. Although Rockstar officially blamed the layoffs on disciplinary action and the dissemination of classified information on public platforms, an insider claims the true reason is unrelated to public leaks. According to the insider, the discussion took place not on public forums, but on a closed Discord server accessible only by invitation. It involved studio employees and representatives of the British trade union IWGB, and the server served as a forum for discussions about salaries, bonuses, and working conditions—topics that are legally considered protected and can be discussed within the union environment.

The source reports that the investigation was prompted by a discussion of internal changes to Rockstar's corporate policy. In one email, management outlined new rules, including a ban on the use of emojis in employee statuses. Participants in the closed chat exchanged opinions on these rules, after which someone allegedly reported the conversation to management, triggering an internal investigation.

The situation sparked a heated reaction among workers and union representatives. The IWGB filed a lawsuit against Rockstar, and former employees protested outside the studio and publisher Take-Two. Furthermore, over 220 current employees demanded a review of the decision and the reinstatement of the fired employees, arguing that discussions about compensation and working conditions were not legal grounds for dismissal.