New material from a Rockstar insider has surfaced describing Discord conversations that the source says contributed to an internal inquiry and the dismissal of dozens of staff. The insider told People Make Games that a private union Discord server and the company’s October 2025 removal of internal Slack channels set off a chain of events that ended with 34 employees losing their jobs.
The source described a Discord server created in 2022 for Rockstar employees and union organizers. New members were placed in a general channel, while paying members had access to extra rooms. At its peak, the server reportedly held more than 300 verified employees and union representatives. Conversations were mostly about workplace issues, including bonuses and pay. According to the insider, the problem began after Rockstar began removing what staff called harmless Slack channels in October 2025. The source said the company removed hobby and pet channels and tightened internal communications policies in the name of productivity.
Messages from the Discord that were passed to People Make Games show employees reacting to the changes and arguing that the productivity rationale did not hold. One of the fired workers wrote in the server “I would really like to see the evidence for them being too much of a productivity hit. I can’t imagine it being worth the absolute dumpster fire this will be for morale.” Another dismissed employee wrote “the productivity point is a load of sh*t and everybody knows it.” These quotes are preserved from the material the insider provided.
The insider said internal emails about the Slack changes had been posted in the Discord, and that sharing workplace emails with an external messaging channel may have breached Rockstar policy. That, the source claims, prompted at least one Discord member to raise concerns with management and helped trigger an investigation during the second week of October. By the end of the month, 34 employees had been dismissed for gross misconduct tied to the server. Rockstar has publicly maintained the firings were connected to leaked confidential information rather than union activity. For background on the company statement and earlier coverage of the dismissals, see Rockstar says recent GTA 6 firings were over leaked confidential information, not union activity.
The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain criticized Rockstar in a video report, calling the company’s response heavy-handed. IWGB president Alex Marshall said “Rockstar are desperately trying to prevent people from being able to communicate and all these workers have ever been trying to do is to discuss their pay conditions to try and improve them so they can deliver a game that’s loved by millions.” He also said the company’s actions indicate they are “governing by fear” and that the union plans legal action.
This reporting amplifies why workplace chat and the boundaries between private employee groups and official channels have become flashpoints across the industry. If internal communications are barred from being viewed outside work email, sharing those emails in a Discord can be framed as a policy breach. On the other hand, employees and unions argue that discussing pay and conditions is a normal part of workplace organization. For readers tracking the story, note that the new Discord material is sourced to an insider and to People Make Games. The claims have not been independently verified by Rockstar in public statements beyond its earlier explanation about alleged information leaks.
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