"Top secret" GTA 6 feature that some developers were reportedly fired over was 32-player online, according to Rockstar court documents

1. Games
2. Action Games
3. Grand Theft Auto
4. GTA 6

"Top secret" GTA 6 feature that some developers were reportedly fired over was 32-player online, according to Rockstar court documents News By Dustin Bailey published 14 January 2026

Rockstar says it was "gravely concerned" about this reveal

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Rockstar Games) Share Share by:

• Copy link
• Facebook
• X
• Whatsapp
• Pinterest
• Flipboard

Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google

In late 2025, GTA 6 studio Rockstar dismissed over 30 employees for what the company called "gross misconduct," particularly leaking "specific game features" from upcoming titles in a "public forum." That forum, it turns out, was a private Discord server where employees apparently discussed working conditions at the studio and spoke with organizers at the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain. Newly revealed court documents from Rockstar say that one of the big new features these employees were discussing was a 32-player online mode.

This month, a judge heard from representatives of both Rockstar and the fired employees, ultimately ruling in the company's favor and denying interim relief to the affected workers ahead of the upcoming trial. In that hearing, as reported by People Make Games, Rockstar's representative barrister Andrew Burns referenced a "top secret" feature of GTA 6 revealed in employee Discord messages.

Burns didn't want to discuss this feature in public, so he asked the judge to read that message privately. Despite those secrecy concerns, the documents presented in court were not subject to any reporting restrictions, allowing PMG to view them at the Glasgow Tribunals Centre.

You may like

• Rockstar accused of "ruthless" firing ahead of GTA 6, cutting over 30 employees tied to dev union: Take-Two claims "gross misconduct," labor group says "we won't back down"
• "Delay game, disappoint fans, all in a week's work for Rockstar": Labor group issues legal claims against GTA 6 dev Rockstar for "simple union busting" after firing 31 staff
• "This is about the arrogance of a company like Rockstar": Labor union pushes for relief for fired GTA 6 devs

Rockstar vs. Union: We Went to Court and Saw the Evidence - YouTube Watch On

One message in question shared in the video above was part of a conversation about Rockstar limiting the number of employees who could take time off at once, which then mentions a large session taking place involving 32 players that was "difficult" to do.

32-player online sessions are, of course, exactly what's already offered in GTA 5's online mode – 30 players active in a lobby, with up to two more able to spectate. Numerous other Discord messages are included in Rockstar's court filings, including talk related to AI policy at the company, travel considerations, and crunch (or lack thereof) at various sub-studios. But this is the only specific game feature PMG describes in its rundown of these messages.

In Rockstar's filed grounds of resistance, the company added that it was "gravely concerned" to have discovered that employees "had been sharing highly confidential and commercially sensitive information relating to the content and features of an unannounced online service. They discussed the specific number of online players planned for this service, a material feature of this new title, which has not yet been revealed by Rockstar."

Anticipation for GTA 6 isn't enough to overshadow Rockstar Games' alleged union-busting scandal, as a Scottish councillor calls for political action.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. TOPICS Rockstar Rockstar Games Take-Two Interactive CATEGORIES PS5 Xbox Series X Platforms PlayStation Xbox Dustin BaileySocial Links NavigationStaff Writer

Dustin Bailey joined the GamesRadar team as a Staff Writer in May 2022, and is currently based in Missouri. He's been covering games (with occasional dalliances in the worlds of anime and pro wrestling) since 2015, first as a freelancer, then as a news writer at PCGamesN for nearly five years. His love for games was sparked somewhere between Metal Gear Solid 2 and Knights of the Old Republic, and these days you can usually find him splitting his entertainment time between retro gaming, the latest big action-adventure title, or a long haul in American Truck Simulator.

Show More Comments

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Logout Read more Rockstar accused of "ruthless" firing ahead of GTA 6, cutting over 30 employees tied to dev union: Take-Two claims "gross misconduct," labor group says "we won't back down"    "Delay game, disappoint fans, all in a week's work for Rockstar": Labor group issues legal claims against GTA 6 dev Rockstar for "simple union busting" after firing 31 staff    "This is about the arrogance of a company like Rockstar": Labor union pushes for relief for fired GTA 6 devs    Anticipation for GTA 6 isn't enough to overshadow Rockstar Games' alleged union-busting scandal as a Scottish councillor calls for political action    GTA 6 dev Rockstar doubles down and calls union busting claims "entirely false and misleading"    GTA 6 dev Rockstar says recent firings were due to leaks of "confidential information" and were "in no way related to people's right to join a union"    Latest in Grand Theft Auto GTA 6 reportedly might not be "content complete," but the November launch date still feels "more real" than before    Ex-Rockstar lead says all GTA competitors have "given up," but there's still "an opportunity" to challenge Rockstar    GTA 6 "will redefine players' standards" according to JRPG legends from Atlus, Square Enix, and Sega    Former Rockstar technical director " didn’t like GTA 4 that much" at launch because "we had to sacrifice so much"    Rockstar's wildest ideas "wouldn't have been as good as GTA," says ex lead, who respects Larian ditching Baldur's Gate 4    We'll probably never see a Grand Theft Auto set in a futuristic city like GTA 2 because the team "hated it"    Latest in News Deadpool finally revealed for Marvel Rivals: the first hero who can play all 3 roles, and also block ults with his ass    Almost 10 years after launch, Capcom's NES Disney compilation could finally come to Switch as ESRB rating emerges    Baldur's Gate 3 director's big Divinity mystery has apparently been solved – this detail sure wasn't an accident    Forza Horizon 6 release date seemingly leaked in Horizon 5, Xbox itself says it's coming this spring    Still refusing to announce Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag remake, Ubisoft uploads 18 songs from the game to YouTube    GTA 6 feature that some devs were reportedly fired over was 32-player online, according to Rockstar court documents    GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1. 1Origin Story review | GamesRadar+
2. 2Trails Beyond the Horizon review: "This JRPG's thrilling real-time and turn-based combat evolves Metaphor ReFantazio's hybrid battles, making up for a poorly paced adventure"
3. 3Scythe review
4. 4Skate Story review: "A beautiful and unique skateboarding game with great, stylized visuals set in a grungy underworld"
5. 5Octopath Traveler 0 review: "The strongest entry in this retro-styled JRPG series yet, I love the greater focus on tactical battles"

1. 128 Years Later: The Bone Temple review: "The wildest and weirdest entry into the franchise yet"
2. 2Avatar: Fire and Ash review: "Still a technical marvel, with some of the year's best action filmmaking"
3. 3Five Nights at Freddy's 2 review: "We have waited two years for a Five Nights at Freddy's 1.5"
4. 4Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"
5. 5Wicked: For Good review: "Builds to an incredibly cathartic conclusion, but isn't quite as captivating as Part 1"

1. 1A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review: "This Game of Thrones spin-off is a surprisingly heartfelt and fun return to Westeros"
2. 2Stranger Things season 5 finale review: “Shows off both the best and the worst of Hawkins”
3. 3Stranger Things season 5, Volume 2 review: “All set up for a finale that has so much to deliver”
4. 4Fallout season 2 review: "A hell of a lot of fun despite being overcrowded and convoluted"
5. 5Stranger Things season 5 volume 1 review: “Can the Duffer brothers stick the landing? It’s sure looking like they will”