Rockstar Games Accused of Underpaying Some of Its Workers

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Rockstar Games, the developer of Grand Theft Auto 6, is facing new accusations of breaking rules set by the UK government. This time, it involves unpaid wages at their Rockstar North studio. Several employees were reportedly owed around £1,400 (about $1,800). This isn’t the first time Rockstar has faced legal issues with the UK government – they previously dealt with problems related to employee layoffs in 2025. Now, they’re under scrutiny again for not fully paying their staff what they earned.

Rockstar Games unexpectedly fired 31 developers working on Grand Theft Auto 6 on October 30, 2025, leading to protests and widespread criticism. The company stated the firings were due to serious misconduct, but the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) challenged the decision in court, with some fired workers alleging it was an attempt to discourage union activity. Employees protested outside Rockstar North’s offices, but a court initially ruled in Rockstar’s favor in January 2026. Even as that legal case continues, Rockstar Games is now facing further public criticism for being named on a list of UK companies that haven’t paid workers correctly.

Rockstar North Failed to Fully Pay Employees in 2025

UK government data from HM Revenue and Customs shows that Rockstar Games UK Limited, which includes Rockstar North, didn’t pay £1,396.73 to five employees in 2025. The company is one of 389 businesses in the UK now required to pay outstanding wages. While the amount owed is similar to typical wage errors found by HM Revenue and Customs, the studio is already facing challenges, leading to increased attention. Adding to these issues, a fire occurred at Rockstar North on January 19, 2026, but thankfully no one was hurt. The company stated the fire wouldn’t affect the development of Grand Theft Auto 6.

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Rockstar North and its parent company, Rockstar Games, aren’t alone in facing legal issues and public criticism. Many video game companies, from large corporations like Microsoft, Embracer Group, and Sony, to smaller independent studios, have recently laid off employees with little warning. The video game industry has been unstable since the summer of 2023, and it’s unclear when things will improve. While Rockstar North can resolve its specific issue by paying outstanding wages for 2025, the outcome of its legal dispute with former employees remains uncertain.

Despite recent challenges, Rockstar Games is committed to releasing Grand Theft Auto 6 on schedule, especially since the game has already faced several delays. Even though some team members have been laid off and others are supporting them, Rockstar is doing everything possible to meet the November 2026 release date. It remains to be seen if legal issues in the UK or other unforeseen problems will affect Grand Theft Auto 6 or other projects at Rockstar North and other Rockstar Games studios. Fans eager for updates should keep an eye out for official announcements regarding GTA 6 and the future of Rockstar.

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2026-03-23 00:04