Why are the fired developers refusing a GTA 6 boycott?

Because they spent years working on this game and don't want to see their own contribution penalized. They would rather public support take the form of T-shirt purchases, with proceeds going to their legal defense fund.

What official reason did Rockstar give for the layoffs?

Rockstar cites "gross misconduct," pointing to the disclosure of confidential information on a forum. The studio categorically denies any connection to the employees' union activity.

When will the final hearing of the trial take place, and why does the timing matter?

The hearing opens on September 10 in Glasgow. This is strategically significant for Take-Two, as it falls two months before GTA 6's planned release on November 19, right in the middle of the promotional period.

GTA 6: Rockstar's fired employees reject the boycott

The developers fired by Rockstar Games in autumn 2025 have released a video to shut down an idea circulating within their ranks: don't boycott GTA 6. "Buy one of our t-shirts. You'll help get justice for us," Jack Hoxby sums up in the IWGB union's statement.

The reasoning behind this is simple: they spent years working on this game and have no wish to see their own work punished. Instead, they're asking that support go elsewhere — a t-shirt collection whose proceeds will fund their legal costs.

A trial opening on September 10

The case dates back to October 30, 2025, when more than thirty employees at the British studio were fired without notice. All of them belonged to the IWGB and were involved in setting up a company union. Rockstar cites "gross misconduct" — specifically, the sharing of confidential information on a forum — and denies any link to union activity.

A preliminary tribunal has allowed the employees to proceed with a blacklisting claim, meaning discrimination based on union membership. The final hearing opens on September 10 in Glasgow, two months before the game's release, set for November 19.

The timing is far from trivial for Take-Two, which describes GTA 6 pre-orders as "unprecedented" without ever publishing a figure. Commercial success is hardly in doubt; what's at stake right now is the narrative surrounding the launch.