that grand theft auto 6 Developers fired by Rockstar for serious misconduct were reportedly fired for leaking internal policies on Slack emoji use, but that may not be the only reason. This is according to a new report that reveals some of the messages believed to have contributed to the latest report. GTA 6 controversy.
At the end of October 2025, Rockstar laid off 34 people. GTA 6 The developers claimed that they leaked company secrets through a private Discord server. This server is known to have been created by the Independent Workers' Confederation of Great Britain (IWGB). IWGB reached 200 Rockstar North members a week before the layoffs. This exceeds the legal threshold of 10% required to gain formal recognition and initiate collective bargaining. Rockstar is said to have reduced union membership below that standard by firing dozens of members, and affected employees are calling the firings a blatant act of union destruction and rejecting claims of gross misconduct.
It is claimed that GTA 6 delays have nothing to do with Rockstar firings
Despite fan speculation linking Rockstar's recent layoffs to a second GTA 6 delay, the explanation for the timing appears to be much simpler.
The Union Discord Server where a GTA 6 developer was fired is detailed in a new report.
A new report from YouTube channel People Make Games (PMG) claims to reveal new details about the IWGB Discord server. GTA 6 The developers described it as neither new nor controversial. The server is said to have been operational since 2022, and has a public #general channel used to share union-related information with stakeholders. It also includes a channel dedicated to union organizing, accessible only to IWGB members. The server reportedly had about 300 users in the weeks leading up to the layoffs. Most were IWGB members (~200), prospective members and union representatives. The server includes guidelines explaining what can be legally discussed, including topics such as pay and working conditions. Some former employees interviewed by PMG said they couldn't recall confidential information being shared, but the report suggests Rockstar may have used a broader interpretation of “confidential” than is commonly understood.
Examples of typical discussions leaked from the Rockstar Union Discord Server
GTA 6 developer layoffs reportedly precede Rockstar's 'Slack Purge'.
The events leading up to the firing date back to early October 2025, when Rockstar reportedly removed several other channels from its official Slack servers, including channels related to pets, arts and crafts, music, and gaming. The company has reportedly cited these channels as a source of distraction and, in some cases, unprofessional behavior. The decision was not well received by some employees, who reportedly called it a “Slack purge” and expressed their displeasure on the union's Discord server.
Leaked example of GTA 6 developers discussing Rockstar's Slack channel purge
Why the sapling emoji has special meaning to GTA 6 developers
In addition to casual discussions about gaming preferences, employees also reportedly shared industry news in the recently deleted #misc-gaming channel on Rockstar's Slack servers. Here, a trend has developed to use the sapling emoji (🌱) to react to news of mass layoffs, showing solidarity with affected workers and symbolizing growing support for company-wide unionization. To emphasize its cultural significance, this emoji also appeared on banners held by some of the laid-off workers. GTA 6 Developers protesting outside the Rockstar North offices in early November 2025. Several recently laid off employees interviewed by PMG speculated that Rockstar was intentionally trying to curtail this iconic activity by shutting down the #misc-gaming Slack channel. “I'm going to miss the shot straight away [sic] “Every day at 8 a.m. there is news about the formation of a gaming union,” one former employee posted on the Discord server, who was eventually fired.
RIP other games. You'll miss the shot right away. [sic] We deliver news of the formation of a gaming union every day at 8 am.
Rockstar reportedly banned the sapling emoji from its Slack channel, but not directly.
The IWGB Rockstar federation Discord server sparked an effort to write a collective open letter opposing management's decision to remove the Other Channel from one of the leaked messages in early October 2025. Around that time, Rockstar reportedly announced a new Slack policy banning emojis, including stricter guidelines for status messages. This is said to be another move that some of the laid-off employees interpreted as management saying they were 'tired of Palestinian flags and saplings.'
Leaked message from GTA 6 developer reacting to Rockstar's Slack emoji ban
Rockstar's Slack Emoji Ban Email Reportedly Transcribed to Union Discord Server, Violating Company Policy
Discussion of the email announcing Rockstar's Slack emoji ban on the IWGB Discord server may have played a central role in the company's official justification for the layoffs. because GTA 6 Rockstar reportedly has a strict policy in place, allowing employees to access their work email only while in the office. However, the email outlining the October 2025 Slack policy changes was reportedly sent outside standard working hours (after 5pm UK time on October 6), meaning many affected employees did not read the email when it was published. As a result, the content was shared on the IWGB Discord server. PMG's report quotes at least one message directly, and states that another message contains the full text of an email that the author claims was created by taking a photo of an office screen and automatically copying the image using an unidentified optical character recognition (OCR) tool. These actions may be a violation of company policy.
A Union Discord member reportedly reported the email leak to Rockstar management
One of PMG's sources claims that this act of sharing internal company communications led at least one person on the IWGB Discord server to approach Rockstar North executives “to express concerns about ongoing discussions” on the platform. It's unclear whether studio higher-ups were already aware of the Discord server at the time, but it is believed that this behavior contributed to the investigation that ultimately led to the controversial firing of 34 people. GTA 6 Developer for gross misconduct. Less than three weeks passed between the reported Discord discussion and the dismissal in late October 2025.
Rockstar declined to comment on a new report from PMG, which claims some of the sacked employees had been with the company for more than a decade, while others were on work visas and now face the risk of having to leave the UK. IWGB took legal action against this. GTA 6 In mid-November 2025, the developer requested reinstatement of the fired employee. The labor union announced that it plans to sue Rockstar for unfair dismissal if Rockstar's demands are not accepted.
- released
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November 2026
- ESRB
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Rating Pending – Mature 17+
