Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Video games have been busy. The information that GTA 6 has been postponed yesterday coincided with Take-Two’s quarterly earnings launch. And simply final week, Rockstar fired between 30 and 40 staff, later claiming they had been “distributing and discussing confidential info in public” in opposition to firm coverage. Nonetheless, fired staff have been collaborating in union-related Discord chats, claiming the firings had been a “blatant” and “ruthless” act of union-busting.
On this context, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has defended the corporate’s tradition and labor efficiency, saying the corporate is “extremely proud” of its labor relations.
Talking to videogameaddicted forward of the earnings name yesterday, when requested if there was any response to the union-busting allegations, Zelnick pointed to present public statements from Take-Two and Rockstar and reiterated, “We absolutely help Rockstar.”
So I requested Mr. Zelnick what Take-Two’s stance on unions is normally. Zelnick didn’t reply that particular query. However he mentioned:
“That is our stance. We care deeply about every considered one of our colleagues. We’ve got 13,500 colleagues all over the world. We’re very happy with our tradition. In recent times, we’ve got been acknowledged as an Employer of Selection greater than 15 instances…This yr we had been acknowledged as a Nice Place to Work within the US and the UK. Lately, Forbes journal named us one of many World’s Greatest Employers. And…our attrition price is lower than half the {industry} common. Particularly, our world attrition price is simply over 6%, whereas within the UK it is lower than 4%, and Rockstar is even decrease than our common.β
“We predict the proof is within the pudding, the meals is scrumptious and our tradition is outstanding. And we attempt to be probably the most inventive, most modern and best firm within the {industry}. That is how we predict. We’re extremely happy with our labor relations.”
(A Take-Two spokesperson later revealed that Rockstar’s world attrition price is 4%, with “half that” within the UK. videogameaddicted then requested for the supply of the above-industry-average 12% attrition price. The spokesperson clarified that it was for “leisure and expertise” and that the supply was Take-Two’s personal inner analysis. “We use and compile a wide range of related information platforms/sources.”)
Mr Zelnick’s newest response comes amid continued unrest over his dismissal, with affected staff and supporters picketing exterior Rockstar and Take-Two’s UK places of work yesterday. Based on the Impartial Staff’ Union of Nice Britain (IWGB), the one non-rock stars within the non-public commerce union Discord are union organizers. IWGB boss Alex Marshall issued the next assertion to videogameaddicted:
“Rockstar continues to show a blind eye to the actual causes for these layoffs. They concern hard-working employees members will privately focus on exercising their rights for a fairer office and collective voice. Administration has proven they do not care about GTA 6’s delays and are prioritizing union busting by focusing on the very individuals who make the sport.”
“Rockstar bosses have benefited from Β£443 million in tax breaks lately, whereas exhibiting full disregard for the regulation and the lives of their staff. At each flip, they’ve chosen revenue over each staff and followers of their video games. The one non-Rockstar staff on the union’s Discord channel had been union organizers.”
Rockstar claims the termination was attributable to “gross misconduct and no different motive.”
This isn’t the primary labor dispute on the firm. Final yr within the studio requested staff to return to the workplace 5 days every weekcited a need to enhance each productiveness and safety, together with: Huge leak of “GTA 6” in growth 2022 and GTA 6 trailer 1 launched the day earlier than following yr. That call is Criticized by staff belonging to IWGBmentioned Rockstar broke its promise by forcing a return to the workplace and accused the studio of refusing to have interaction with staff on the problem.
GTA 6 is scheduled to be launched on November 19, 2026.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter at videogameaddicted. You’ll find her posts at BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Do you’ve any story suggestions? Ship it to rvalentine@videogameaddicted.com.