Rockstar, the gaming giant and creator of the Grand Theft Auto series, is reeling from a layoff crisis. A newly released report has revealed the surprising reason behind the company’s recent dismissal of 34 employees for “gross misconduct.”

According to information shared by People Make Games, the primary cause of this mass layoff was conversations held in an off-site Discord server. This incident, in which employees discussed only internal communication policies, led to a clash between the union and management.

How did the Rockstar layoff crisis begin?

The crisis was sparked by sudden changes to the company’s Slack usage policies in early October. Management shut down some channels where employees discussed hobbies and industry news, claiming they were affecting productivity. Employees were also restricted from editing their status messages.

According to company policy, employees cannot access their emails outside the office. When an email announcing the change in Slack rules was sent, some employees at home shared the information with their colleagues in a private Discord server. Allegedly, a full-scale investigation was launched after an employee complained to management.

The Discord server in question was created in 2022 by employees interested in unionizing. The dismissed employees claim that no confidential information about games was shared on the server, and that only matters such as wages and working conditions were discussed. However, company management deemed the leaking of internal memos a breach of contract.

The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) describes the company’s stance as “managing by fear.” Union president Alex Marshall argued that it was normal for employees to discuss working conditions and claimed the company was using this excuse to stifle unionization efforts.

Following the incidents, more than 200 employees from the Rockstar North office signed a letter demanding the reinstatement of their dismissed colleagues. Several protests were also held in the streets of London and Edinburgh.

Parent company Take-Two, however, remains silent on the matter and denies the union’s accusations of unfair termination. Industry analysts warn that such strict policies could damage the company’s reputation.

So, what are your thoughts on the Rockstar layoff crisis? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!