Rockstar Games has detailed the extensive security measures it employs to protect its highly anticipated titles, particularly Grand Theft Auto 6, in a submission to the Glasgow Employment Tribunal. The company is defending its decision to dismiss 31 developers last year, a move contested by the Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) union, which alleges the employees were targeted for union activities. Rockstar maintains the dismissals were due to the leaking of confidential GTA 6 information via Discord.
The developer has likened its approach to security as akin to that of "a Wall Street bank," emphasizing the intense scrutiny it faces as the creator of what is predicted to be the biggest entertainment launch of all time. Rockstar has experienced numerous security breaches, including a significant leak of GTA 6 gameplay footage last month, which followed a decade of similar incidents during the game's development. In one instance in April 2025, an employee in Lincoln, UK, was dismissed for allegedly disclosing confidential GTA 6 information to a third party who then published it online.
Heightened Security Protocols
Rockstar's opening note to the tribunal outlines a stringent set of protocols designed to prevent leaks. All visitors must sign non-disclosure agreements, and contractors are escorted by security while on-site. Remote work is severely restricted, and the use of flash drives and other external storage devices is prohibited. Photography within the workplace is strictly forbidden, and personal laptops, tablets, and phones are blocked from connecting to Rockstar's systems. Employees are explicitly ordered not to disclose confidential information, even to family members, with the company noting that "even innocuous pictures of an employee’s desk could unacceptably reveal confidential information."
The company has faced persistent security threats, including drones being used to photograph through office windows, necessitating the application of privacy films to its buildings. Staff have also been subjected to online harassment. To combat these threats, Rockstar employs a full-time team of five investigators and a director dedicated to monitoring and investigating potential data leaks. The company also faces regular phishing and social engineering attacks aimed at obtaining login credentials, some of which have been successful. A notable example is the 2022 leak of unfinished GTA 6 development footage, which was obtained through a phishing attack that compromised an employee's computer and access to internal communication channels.
Rockstar asserts that the history of leaks has made the company "hypervigilant to lock information down as tightly as possible." The developer also referenced a recent attempt by a hacking group to blackmail the company, noting that such incidents justify its sensitivity to security and confidentiality, especially given that a previous hack caused Take-Two's market value to drop by $3.75 billion in a single day.
Tribunal Proceedings
The IWGB claims that the dismissed employees were unlawfully blacklisted and targeted for union activities, and that their dismissals lacked due process. Rockstar disputes these allegations, stating it was unaware of any union involvement among the fired staff at the time of dismissal. The company believes that any leak of the Discord comments concerning GTA 6 features, progress, and IT security protocols would have significantly impacted its stock price. The tribunal hearing is scheduled to continue until October 16.
Former Rockstar employee and IWGB union member Jason Lewis commented that the tribunal offers a chance to "put on the record" the truth about their dismissals, expressing the hardship faced by the workers who were removed from a project they dedicated years to. The union is seeking reinstatement or compensation for the affected workers and a ruling that their dismissals were unfair.
In parallel with the legal battle, negotiations are ongoing between Rockstar and the IWGB for formal union recognition. The union's demands include greater pay transparency, protection from post-release layoffs, an end to crunch, and improved flexible working arrangements. If an agreement is reached, Rockstar would become the largest recognized unionized game studio in the UK.