Rockstar GamesMessages shared in a Discord server between now-fired Rockstar Games employees have been revealed as part of an investigation into the controversial dismissal of over 30 staff.
A Rockstar Games insider has claimed an internal crackdown on communication channels sparked an investigation that ultimately led to 34 Rockstar workers being fired last month. The source shared new information and the Discord messages with ‘People Make Games’.
Union Discord messages contributed to Rockstar’s inquiry
According to the source, the union Discord server was created in 2022 and allowed Rockstar employees to join through invites sent by select organisers.
New members were placed in a general channel, while paying union members gained access to additional rooms. At its peak, the server held more than 300 verified employees and union representatives.
The source said guidelines were posted on what could and could not be shared and could not recall any confidential information being leaked, with most conversations revolving around workplace issues, including bonuses.
Rockstar’s “Slack Purge”
The insider, who was not part of the union or among those fired, said the company began tightening restrictions in October 2025 by removing several internal Slack channels, including hobby and pet groups, after deeming them a distraction.
Discord messages provided to People Make Games showed how employees reacted to Rockstar’s removal of internal Slack channels.
One of the fired workers wrote: “I would really like to see the evidence for them being too much of a productivity hit. I can’t imagine it being worth the absolute dumpster fire this will be for morale.”
Another dismissed employee added: “the productivity point is a load of sh*t and everybody knows it.”
Related
An internal email sent by Rockstar, shown in the People Make Games report, stated: “We believe this change is essential for fostering a more focused, productive and respectful work environment.”
Internal emails shared in Discord
According to the source, internal emails about these policy changes were shared in a Discord channel, and this prompted at least one member of the Discord to approach management with concerns.
Rockstar policy does not permit workers to access their work email outside of the office, and so sharing the contents of these internal emails was potentially a breach of this policy.
The source said these discussions, and the sharing of internal emails, contributed to or prompted the start of an investigation into the union Discord during the second week of October. By the end of the month, 34 employees had been dismissed for gross misconduct tied to the server.
Union president says “Rockstar are governing by lack of transparency”
In the video, Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) president, Alex Marshall, criticised Rockstar’s actions, saying: “Rockstar are desperately trying to prevent people from being able to communicate and all these workers have ever been trying to do is to discuss their pay conditions to try and improve them so they can deliver a game that’s loved by millions.”
Asked whether discussions about pay and wages were appropriate for the group, he said: “I think it is absolutely normal for people to be discussing their material conditions whether that’s bonuses, policies, or anything like that. That’s completely normal for staff to be doing that.”
He added that the company’s response “shows not only that they [Rockstar] are governing by a lack of transparency, but they’re also trying to govern by fear. They feel completely threatened by the idea of workers talking to each other, and that’s why they’ve taken this act, to try and destroy the union, and that’s why we’re taking them to court.”
On November 19, Dexerto spoke to former Rockstar developers at a protest outside Rockstar North in Edinburgh, with one former developer alleging “unreasonable working conditions.”