A group of 34 former Rockstar Games employees, who were dismissed last year and are currently engaged in a legal dispute with the company, have requested that players refrain from boycotting the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6. Instead, they are encouraging supporters to contribute to their legal defense fund by purchasing union-designed merchandise.
The firings, which occurred in November of last year, reportedly stemmed from discussions about a new company Slack policy held on a union-run Discord server. Rockstar Games has accused the affected staff of leaking confidential information, while the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has alleged that the studio engaged in union busting.
With the final trial in the legal proceedings scheduled to commence on September 10th, the IWGB and the dismissed developers have outlined their preferred method for demonstrating solidarity. "We poured years of our lives into helping build this game. We don't want you to boycott it. We want you to help us fight for justice," stated Jack Hoxby, a member of the IWGB Game Workers branch and one of the former Rockstar developers. He added that while they have received significant support from gamers and workers globally, buying t-shirts offers a tangible way to aid their cause and uphold workers' rights to organize.
The merchandise, dubbed 'Rockstar 34 Solidarity t-shirts', is available for pre-order on the IWGB Game Workers' website for £25. The pre-order window closes on August 30th, with estimated shipping to begin in mid-September. The IWGB and remaining Rockstar developers have since formed the Rockstar Games Workers Union as their legal battle has continued.