The saga of Rockstar Games and what’s felt like a never-ending wait for the release of Grand Theft Auto VI has already taken a few strange turns. While fans of the hit video game franchise continue to track the release date, with fingers crossed that there are no further delays, new details about GTA 6 confirmed leaks recently surfaced. While Rockstar Games remains in a standoff with the 30-plus employees fired in November 2025, the situation has revealed an interesting timeline showing that three other Grand Theft Auto developers were also fired. In what appears to be an odd coincidence, at least two of the firings came just prior to Rockstar’s decision to push back the release of GTA 6.
The ‘GTA 6’ Leaks and How the Firings Aligned With Game Delays
Although the 30-plus employees fired by Rockstar for what they cited as misconduct have taken center stage, they weren’t the only employees shown the door over GTA 6 leaks. As Dexerto detailed, three other developers, one based in the Lincoln studio, one in India, and one in the United States, were also fired due to reported “unrelated” leaks.
However, it’s the timing of two developers losing their jobs for reportedly leaking game information that stands out. Rockstar’s two announced delays came in May 2025 and November 2025; the two firing timelines revealed in the new information show the Rockstar developer in the Lincoln studio was fired one month before the first delay of GTA 6 (April 2025). Later in the year, the Rockstar India employee was reportedly fired in November 2025, the same month as the second delay.
- Rockstar fired one developer in its Lincoln studio in April 2025 for reportedly leaking information about GTA 6.
- One month later, in May 2025, Rockstar announced its first delay of Grand Theft Auto VI’s release.
- Per the report, the Rockstar India employee fired for allegedly leaking game information was let go in November 2025, the same month the second GTA 6 delay was announced.
According to Dexerto, a Rockstar spokesperson reiterated what the company has said throughout the feud with the 30-plus recently fired employees, insisting the decisions had nothing to do with “union busting.”
“This was never about ‘union busting.’ Rockstar has always been consistent in its zero-tolerance approach to leaks,” a Rockstar spokesperson said.
Rockstar’s Feud With Ex-Employees and GTA 6 Developers Intensifies
While the recently fired employees had seen their situation with Rockstar Games heat up in the legal system, they received some bad news recently. As IWGB Game Workers revealed on X, the decision was not to grant interim pay relief to former Rockstar employees.
However, the post also clearly reiterated their “firm belief that Rockstar broke the law” when firing the 31 employees.
Our statement concerning the decision to not grant interim pay relief to the members fired by Rockstar. We remain confident in the strength of our case against Rockstar and we reiterate our firm belief that Rockstar broke the law when it summarily dismissed 31 union members. pic.twitter.com/S5X1O4zUBK
— IWGB Game Workers (@IWGB_GW) January 13, 2026
While the decision was ultimately made not to grant the interim pay relief, it appears that the union and the 31 former employees remain steadfast in their pursuit of legal action against Rockstar Games. It doesn’t appear this situation will be resolved anytime soon, and there may not be one until the two sides ultimately meet in court.
As for Grand Theft Auto VI, Rockstar has consistently maintained that the previous delay, pushing the game’s release to Nov. 19, 2026, is simply to “finish the game with the level of polish” players have come to expect. Barring something unforeseen, it’d be a significant surprise if Rockstar were to need to delay GTA 6’s release again.
Related: Amid ‘GTA 6’ Delay Concerns, ‘GTA 5’ Veteran Drops Reality Check on Pricing Rumors
