Rockstar Games Employees in U.K. and Canada Sacked Over Discord Leak, Legal Battle Begins Thirty-one UK staff and three Canadian colleagues were dismissed by Rockstar Games for allegedly sharing confidential information on Discord. The workers, represented by the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain, are facing a month‑long tribunal hearing seeking reinstatement or compensation. A Scottish employment tribunal in Glasgow is set to hear a case brought by 23 former Rockstar Games employees who were dismissed in October last year for allegedly leaking confidential company information on the Discord platform. In total, the U.S.‑owned studio fired 31 staff members in the United Kingdom and three in Canada, citing gross misconduct. The hearing, scheduled to last more than a month, takes place just weeks before the November 19 launch of the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI. Rockstar Games maintains that the dismissals were solely for violations of company policy, not for union activity.In a statement, the company said: "Individuals across the U.K. and Canada were dismissed for gross misconduct following the sharing of confidential company information, not because of alleged trade union membership or activity." The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain has filed claims that the dismissals were illegal, arguing that the employees were targeted due to their union activities and that proper disciplinary procedures and a right of appeal were omitted. The union seeks reinstatement for the sacked staff or compensation for the losses suffered. Several former employees described the impact of the layoffs on their personal lives.Branimira Yordanova, a 31‑year‑old lighting artist, said the sacking left her worried about losing her home."To say the impact was devastating doesn't do it justice," she told AFP. She had secured a short‑time contract after her dismissal, but that work has now ended. In Glasgow, about forty protestors carrying banners denouncing "union busting" gathered outside the courthouse. The demonstration underscored the tension between Rockstar's secrecy culture and the rights of employees to union representation.Voice‑actors and visual‑effects artists such as Lloyd Knott, 42, have spoken out against what they call a "culture of fear" that has permeated the industry. Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto series has sold more than 470 million copies worldwide since its debut in 1997, making it one of the most successful video game franchises. While development of GTA VI has remained highly confidential, leaks from an unknown source surfaced recently, prompting the company to release an extended preview in late August.The case highlights broader concerns about workplace rights in the creative sectors. Union activists argue that secretive corporate environments can stifle legitimate labour organizing and set dangerous precedents for other studios. The outcome of the tribunal could set a significant benchmark for how tech and entertainment firms manage employee relations and confidential information.