A union has called on Grand Theft Auto 6 maker Rockstar Games to address issues around working conditions for developers.

The blockbuster video game, due to be released in November, is expected to be one of the most successful of all time.

The Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) Video Game Workers Union called for official recognition from Rockstar, saying it wanted to address pay transparency, flexible working arrangements and overtime expectations.

Some of its members have brought legal action against the company, claiming they were illegally sacked last October for union activity. Rockstar has strenuously denied this and accused them of committing gross misconduct.

The IWGB says members at Edinburgh-based Rockstar, which also has UK studios in Dundee, Lincoln, Leeds and London, began organising in 2019 and claimed there had been improvements in working conditions since then.

It said there had been “unprecedented” average pay rises and financial incentives offered for “crunch” – a video game industry term for excessive, sometimes unpaid, overtime in the lead-up to a game’s release.

Articles published around the time of Rockstar’s last big game, Red Dead Redemption 2, suggested the practice was widespread within the company, external, although it rejected claims it was enforced.

More recent reports from Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier, external said the company has tried to avoid excessive overtime on GTA 6.

The union said official recognition would allow it to open formal channels to discuss issues such as crunch, pay transparency and flexible working with Rockstar’s management.

UK workers are able to join a union without formal recognition, but being part of an official union grants them extra rights and protections, the IWGB said.

Currently, the only UK studio with a recognised union is ZA/UM, the developer of RPG Disco Elysium.

Representatives from the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and the Green Party also voted against the agreement with the BBC at the recent committee meeting.

However, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and the Alliance Party are in favour of the BBC deal.

It is believed the plan would allow the broadcaster use of the studio space for 140 days a year for at least 10 years.

It would not have exclusive access to the space and it would not be branded as a BBC studio, as other organisations could use it, for exhibitions, film-screenings or other cultural events.

Plans for the Belfast Stories project were first revealed in 2021.

It is believed the event space being discussed is larger than the original plan and might cost an extra £10m.

However, the council would receive a financial return with the BBC and other organisations paying for use of the space.

Alliance councillor Jenna Maghie called on parties opposed to the plan to reconsider.

She said: “At a time when our arts and cultural sector is already facing an uphill battle to be able to continue delivering the works of film and TV magic that have put Northern Ireland’s creative industries on the map, to see this project fall short of its potential would be immensely disappointing.”

Just like when Swift releases new music and her lyrics are dissected for any hints about her personal life, her legion of fans around the world have been scavenging for clues to her nuptials.

When it comes to New York, Swift’s love of the Big Apple can be found in her music and some have even pointed to her recent appearance at Madison Square Garden during the Knicks playoff series in early June, as . The star also owns a home in the city.

There have been some other natural geographic theories about where the couple’s wedding could be.

Swift owns a home in the US state of Rhode Island, a picturesque coastal location for a summer wedding.

She was at that estate just before she met Kelce.

In a now-famous Instagram post shared just after Independence Day weekend of 2023, Swift posted, “See you tonight Kansas Cityyy.”

Many fans have latched on to the idea that Swift would appreciate the symbolism of marrying Kelce nearly three years to the day that she met her future husband.

There was the debunked theory that Swift wanted to hold her wedding at a Rhode Island venue nearby her coastal estate, and offered another couple a significant amount of money to move their wedding date so Swift and Kelce could host theirs. The venue refuted that account.

Speculation of a possible Rhode Island wedding mounted in June, with paparazzi snapping photos of weddings in the area (that they later found weren’t celebrating the famous couple) and fans swarming the area. Swifties who turned up at the site last month were left disappointed.

Then there were other theories: Kansas City, where Kelce lives and works, Swift’s home state of Pennsylvania, and the NFL star’s home state of Ohio.

But on timing, the singer is a big fan of the 4 July holiday, giving further credence to the theory that she would choose the US holiday weekend as a possible date.

If AC/DC, Iron Maiden and Metallica were caught up in a test tube reaction, it’s likely the new creation to emerge from the biochemical slime would resemble Airbourne. Derivative to the core, the rock-till-you-drop Australian four-piece have touched down in Cardiff’s Tramshed signalling for all men over 50 to don their long beards, heavy metal tees and dark biker-esque clothing, grab a pint and indulge in a spot of headbanging.

Having played with the big boys for some time – supporting the likes of the Rolling Stones, Mötley Crüe and Motörhead – the group are in the Welsh capital for their fourth visit since 2008, slinging their brand of 80s hard rock and still mining that seam, no doubt, hoping for the rock’n’roll gold struck by their long-haired predecessors.

Comparisons to fellow Aussies AC/DC should be understood by anyone with a musical ear. With a guitar tone and style almost identical to that of Angus Young, frontman Joel O’Keeffe plays the double role of lead singer and lead guitarist, behaving with such outlandish abandon that other members of the band almost appear as session musicians in comparison as he regularly takes up the limelight. Sitting atop someone’s shoulders whilst shredding pinky-burning licks as they parade him through the crowd, or headbanging furiously in front of a wall of Marshall amps all turned up to 11, the guy doesn’t let up for a moment – indeed, there’ll be no rendition of Candle In The Wind here.

If having no qualms about being unoriginal is a superpower, then Airbourne wear that badge with honour. Sticking to a formula that works, they display a kind of cartoon majesty, regularly belting out choruses that even someone with memory loss can master.  Songs such as Breakin’ Outta Hell, Raise The Flag and Back In The Game are enough to entertain and get the audience going, resulting in fans occasionally attempting to crowdsurf, or sit atop their friend’s or lover’s shoulders trying to catch cups of water thrown at them from the stage.

If this wasn’t all high-octane enough, Bristolian support act Mother Vulture kick off proceedings, brandishing a more original, 21st-century take on hard rock while packing more energy than a Snickers Duo. Screamo in places, ear-bitingly loud and anyone’s guess as to what they were singing about, though evidently someone at some point had made them very, very angry, hints of Faith No More even overshadow the Chuckle Brothers-style dancing that randomly breaks out in the audience. The group successfully launch what was largely a light-hearted, fun and carefree evening. An after-party if you like, following in the steps of Metallica’s big showdown the evening before – albeit more intimate and budget-friendly.

Airbourne + Mother Vulture, Tramshed, Cardiff, Mon 29 June

words OLIVER R. MOORE-HOWELLS photos ANTHONY JAMES