Rockstar Tribunal Trial Date Set in IWGB Case
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A UK employment tribunal has scheduled the full trial over the firing of more than 30 IWGB union members at Rockstar Games for September 10 to October 15, 2026. In the same ruling, the tribunal rejected Rockstar’s attempt to strike “blacklisting” allegations — collecting information on union activists for discriminatory purposes — from the case. The game is developed by Rockstar Games under publisher Take-Two Interactive.
Below is only what the sources directly report: when the trial will happen, what the case covers, and what each side says.
The full trial date
According to Game Developer, an earlier tribunal ruling confirmed the fired workers’ — IWGB union members’ — right to bring the blacklisting allegations to a full hearing. The trial itself has been scheduled for the period between September 10 and October 15, 2026.
It’s worth understanding what this ruling actually is: a procedural finding from a preliminary hearing, not a final verdict in the case. At this stage, the tribunal only determined which allegations will reach the full hearing and when it will happen — not who is right.
Who was fired, and when
The case involves the firing of more than 30 union members in the UK and Canada in October 2025. According to PC Gamer, everyone fired either belonged to the union or took part in efforts to organize the workplace.
Fired Rockstar workers had earlier publicly appealed to fans not to boycott the game over this labor dispute. That statement addressed a different aspect of the same story of firings, not the trial covered in this article directly — the fuller background is covered there.
What the blacklisting allegations are
The IWGB union accuses Rockstar of compiling and maintaining lists of workers involved in union activity — a practice known in labor terminology as “blacklisting.” Rockstar tried to strike this part of the claim from the case before the main trial. In its earlier ruling, the tribunal rejected that attempt: the blacklisting allegations will reach the full hearing along with the rest of the claims.
This is a procedural win for the union at the evidence-admission stage, not a finding of guilt. Whether Rockstar actually kept such lists will only be settled by the outcome of the September 10 to October 15 trial.
What each side says
Fired worker Ellie Dunstan said that, in her view, Rockstar believed it controlled the narrative around the case, and that former workers intend to prove otherwise now that the case will be heard in full.
IWGB chair Spring McParlin-Jones described the tribunal’s ruling as strengthening the union’s position ahead of the case’s final stage.
Rockstar itself, according to Game Developer, maintains that the October 2025 firings followed a leak of confidential information in a Discord channel, not the fired workers’ union activity. The sources used for this article do not cite a separate official company comment addressing the blacklisting allegations specifically.
At a glance: what’s known so far
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Full trial | September 10 to October 15, 2026 |
| Workers fired | more than 30 union members, UK and Canada, October 2025 |
| Tribunal ruling | blacklisting allegations remain in the case |
| Rockstar’s position | firings followed a Discord channel leak |
| Link to the release | trial concludes roughly a month before GTA 6 launches on November 19 |
Why this isn’t a verdict yet
This is a labor dispute that hasn’t been resolved by a court. The earlier tribunal ruling covers only procedure — which allegations will be heard, and when — not the substance of the dispute. Both sides will get the chance to present their version of events at the September–October trial, and only afterward will it be clear whose account holds up to the evidence. Until then, the union’s account of blacklisting and Rockstar’s account of a Discord channel leak remain exactly that: each side’s account, not established fact.
FAQ
When will the full trial in Rockstar’s case against IWGB take place?
From September 10 to October 15, 2026, according to Game Developer.
How many workers were fired, and where?
More than 30 union members in the UK and Canada in October 2025, according to PC Gamer.
What did the tribunal decide about the blacklisting allegations?
The tribunal rejected Rockstar’s attempt to strike the allegations from the case, so they will proceed to the full trial along with the other claims.
What does Rockstar say caused the firings?
According to Game Developer, the company maintains the firings followed a leak of confidential information in a Discord channel.
Will this case affect the GTA 6 release date?
The sources used do not mention any release delay; the trial is set to conclude roughly a month before the planned November 19, 2026 date.
Frequently asked questions
When will the full trial in Rockstar's case against IWGB take place?
From September 10 to October 15, 2026, according to Game Developer.
How many workers were fired, and where?
More than 30 union members in the UK and Canada in October 2025, according to PC Gamer.
What did the tribunal decide about the blacklisting allegations?
The tribunal rejected Rockstar's attempt to strike the allegations from the case, so they will proceed to the full trial along with the other claims.
What does Rockstar say caused the firings?
According to Game Developer, the company maintains the firings followed a leak of confidential information in a Discord channel.
Will this case affect the GTA 6 release date?
The sources used do not mention any release delay; the trial is set to conclude roughly a month before the planned November 19, 2026 date.