Members of the Rockstar Game Workers Union in the United Kingdom publicly accused Rockstar Games on July 1, 2026, of failing to address gender-based pay inequity, intentionally facilitating crunch, and using bonus payments to control staff.
According to reports by gamesindustry. biz and gamedeveloper.
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com, three anonymous union members stated these labor issues are negatively affecting the workforce currently developing Grand Theft Auto VI.
The employees are part of a group currently seeking voluntary union recognition from Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two Interactive.
Bonus System and Career Progression Concerns
The workers expressed major concerns over the company's compensation structure, explaining that unpredictable bonus systems create massive annual income fluctuations based on retroactive and subjective performance feedback.
"When the bonus is particularly good, it can be a windfall, but often the bonus is disappointing and one can end up being paid considerably less than expected for the year," said an anonymous union member.
Union members also claimed that career progression is hindered because the studio frequently changes requirements for promotions, leaving workers with little clarity regarding their advancement.
"The reasoning given for this is often nebulous, inconsistent between departments, even inconsistent between team members within the same department, and sometimes hinges on completely subjective or retroactive criticisms," said the source.
The employees noted that because a substantial portion of their total compensation relies on these discretionary payments, staff members feel pressured to comply entirely with management's demands.
