GTA 6: Rockstar Compares Its Secret to the iPhone in Glasgow

Rockstar compared the secrecy surrounding GTA 6 to that of the iPhone and Coca-Cola during the Glasgow trial over the dismissal of 34 former employees, which began on September 10.

Rockstar Games compared the secrecy surrounding GTA 6 to that protecting the iPhone or the Coca-Cola formula, in its opening statement at the trial that began on September 10 in Glasgow. The case concerns the dismissal of 34 former employees and will run through October 16.

The testimony comes nearly a year after those layoffs, in November 2025, and marks the first time Rockstar has detailed in court the lengths it goes to protect information about GTA 6. This isn’t a forum rumor—it’s what the company itself has admitted under oath.

The Testimony Comparing the Secrecy of GTA 6 to the iPhone

In its opening statement, Rockstar’s defense argued that its security protocols are no different from those of any major brand that relies on keeping a trade secret. The comparison they chose left no room for doubt.

Rockstar argued that its protective measures are comparable to “the trade secret protections used by Apple for the iPhone and by Coca-Cola for its beverage formula.”

The company maintains that the terminations were not a union purge, but rather the result of serious misconduct. According to Rockstar, the 34 former employees shared confidential information about GTA 6 via Discord, and were therefore terminated “after sharing confidential company information” in the United Kingdom and Canada.

Drones, an Anti-Leak Director, and No USB Drives

What has turned the case on its head is not only the comparison to Apple, but the operational detail that Rockstar had to admit to in order to support it. The company acknowledged that third-party drones even photographed its offices from the air—an issue serious enough to force them to install privacy film on the windows.

Added to this is an internal structure dedicated exclusively to hunting down leaks, with five full-time investigators plus a dedicated director, a ban on external storage devices, restrictions on visitor photos, and limits on remote work. It’s a level of control comparable to that of companies that manufacture hardware or guard a century-old recipe.

At Leonida Bay, we’ve spent months separating confirmed information from rumors about GTA 6; this analysis explains—using Rockstar’s own evidence—why so little leaks about a game of this scale.

The Fired Employees’ Account and the Protest in Glasgow

The IWGB (Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain) represents 31 of the 34 employees fired in the United Kingdom; the other 3 worked in Canada. Their account is the opposite of Rockstar’s. According to the union, the terminations were due to the employees’ union activities, not to an actual security breach.

On the first day of the trial, dozens of people protested outside the Glasgow Tribunal Centre. Jason Lewis, one of the former employees, summed up the nearly year-long wait:

“For nearly a year, the truth about what happened to us has been buried by Rockstar and shrouded in speculation.” He added that “justice finally feels within reach.”

Alex Marshall, president of the IWGB, sought to take the case beyond the individual level and warned that “this struggle goes beyond a single studio, workplace, or sector.” The plaintiffs are seeking reinstatement or financial compensation, as well as a court ruling that the dismissal was unfair.

What Might Happen Next

The trial will last about five weeks, and it will yield more than just a labor court ruling. It will also provide a fairly detailed picture of how Rockstar protects GTA 6 leading up to its release. Neither Rockstar nor the IWGB has any incentive to back down midway through the process, so it’s likely that similar details will continue to emerge as the trial progresses.

Quick Questions

What did Rockstar compare the secrecy surrounding GTA 6 to in court?

To Apple’s trade secrets for the iPhone and Coca-Cola’s trade secrets for its formula, according to its own opening statement in the Glasgow court.

How many former employees are behind this lawsuit?

34 in total. 31 are represented by the IWGB union in the United Kingdom, and the other 3 worked in Canada; all were laid off in November 2025.

How long will the trial last?

It began on September 10, 2026, and is scheduled to run through October 16—about five weeks of hearings.