Rockstar Games UK Limited has been named on the UK government enforcement list for failing to pay the National Minimum Wage. The notice covers underpayments at the Holyrood Road studio in Edinburgh.
What happened
HM Revenue and Customs published the list on March 19, 2026. It shows that five workers at Rockstar's Edinburgh office were short-changed a combined total of £1,396.73, which is about $1,800. The company has been told to repay that amount and to pay penalties as part of the enforcement action.
The numbers, plain and simple
- Total underpaid: £1,396.73, roughly $1,800
- Workers affected: five
- Average shortfall per worker: around $372.65
Why this matters
The shortfall falls into the kind of payroll mistakes HMRC flags during routine checks. Even when the amounts look small compared with big corporate budgets, employers are still required to correct them and face penalties when they do not.
Context: Rockstar North and recent issues
Rockstar North is Rockstar Games' main UK studio and the lead developer of the Grand Theft Auto series. It is leading development on Grand Theft Auto VI, which is scheduled for release in November 2026.
The Edinburgh studio has had a rocky stretch. The company has not commented on these underpayments. In late 2025, Rockstar faced staff dismissals at the same studio, and earlier in 2026 an explosion at the building prompted a police cordon and an emergency response.
Wider enforcement
This case is part of a larger HMRC enforcement round that named hundreds of employers. In total, more than 7 million, about $9 million, was due to be repaid to workers in this latest round.
Bottom line: Rockstar must repay the underpaid wages and accept penalties. The amounts involved are modest, but HMRC is treating them as serious enough to name the employer on its public list.
