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A Scottish employment tribunal on Thursday begins hearing a case brought by 23 sacked employees of Rockstar Games \u2014 the studio behind the highly anticipated video game Grand Theft Auto VI.<\/strong><\/p>\n A total 31 UK employees were dismissed in October last year, along with three staff in Canada, for allegedly sharing confidential information on the Discord platform, according to US-owned Rockstar, which is known for its culture of secrecy.<\/p>\n The hearing, set to last more than one month, comes before the November 19 launch of the latest GTA instalment.<\/p>\n Since the 1997 original, the gangster shooter series has sold more than 470 million copies worldwide.<\/p>\n Lloyd Knott, who worked on the visual effects for GTA VI, decried the industry\u2019s \u201cculture of fear\u201d, as he spoke to AFP on Thursday in Glasgow, where the hearing takes place.<\/p>\n The 42 year-old is a member of the Independent Workers\u2019 Union of Great Britain, which is seeking the reinstatement or compensation for the sacked staff .<\/p>\n The IWGB claims the workers in Scotland were targeted owing to their union activities and deems the manner of the dismissals \u201cillegal\u201d, noting the absence of disciplinary procedures or a right of appeal.<\/p>\n \u201cYou kind of feel like, by being a union member, you put a target on your back,\u201d Knott added.<\/p>\n Branimira Yordanova, who was laid off from her role as a lighting artist, said the sacking left her worried about losing her home.<\/p>\n \u201cTo say the impact was devastating doesn\u2019t do it justice,\u201d the 31 year-old told AFP, adding that while she had managed to find a short-time contract following her dismissal, that work had now ended.<\/p>\n Rockstar, a subsidiary of US giant Take-Two Interactive, developed the game in Edinburgh.<\/p>\n Over in Glasgow, about forty people carrying banners that denounced \u201cunion busting\u201d gathered outside the courthouse Thursday.<\/p>\n \u201cRockstar Games\u2019 position has been clear and consistent throughout,\u201d the company said in a statement. \u201cIndividuals across the UK and Canada were dismissed for gross misconduct following the sharing of confidential company information, not because of alleged trade union membership or activity.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe reject the claims and will defend them vigorously before the tribunal,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n Development of GTA VI has been shrouded in the utmost secrecy, but leaks from an unknown source revealed unseen footage of the title, prompting Rockstar Games to release an extended preview in late August.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n