Rockstar UK staff to vote on IWGB union recognition from November 12
The ballot runs to November 26 and overlaps with GTA 6's November 19 launch, plus a tribunal hearing over alleged union-busting dismissals.
Rockstar's UK-based developers will vote from November 12 to November 26 on whether to recognize the IWGB Union at the studio, according to GameSpot. The ballot sits in the middle of a busy release period for the company.
The vote overlaps with the launch of GTA 6 on November 19. It also runs alongside an employment tribunal examining claims that Rockstar dismissed staff for trying to form a union; final arguments in that case are set for November 17 and November 18.
If recognized, the IWGB Rockstar Game Workers Union would become the largest in the UK video game sector.
The dispute dates back to October 2025, when more than 30 IWGB members were let go from Rockstar in the UK. The union said at the time that Rockstar fired them for trying to form a union, while Rockstar said the staffers were dismissed for leaking key details about its upcoming games.
Elsewhere in the industry, more than 1,900 workers at Blizzard recently reached a unionization contract with Microsoft, securing guaranteed raises and AI guardrails. Rockstar publishing boss Jennifer Kolbe recently told Bloomberg that Rockstar goes where the team goes and that the team will have a union if it wants one.
Quick answers
When is the Rockstar UK union vote?
The voting period runs from November 12 to November 26.
When does GTA 6 release?
GTA 6 is scheduled for release on November 19.
What would the IWGB Rockstar Game Workers Union be?
If voted in, it would become the largest union in the UK video game sector.