All game industry unions, explained

As a seasoned labor rights activist with a background in tech and gaming industries, I’ve seen firsthand how essential it is for workers to have a voice and secure working conditions. Having grown up in a working-class family, I’ve experienced the struggles of making ends meet while facing exploitative labor practices.

As someone who has spent the better part of my career in the video game industry, I must admit that this year has been a bittersweet ride for me. On one hand, I’ve been thrilled to see an abundance of fantastic games hitting the market – titles like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Alan Wake 2 have truly exceeded my expectations. It’s been a feast for gamers, with industry profits soaring and the sector expected to reach a staggering $185 billion valuation this year.

As someone who has worked in the video game industry for over a decade, I have witnessed firsthand the grueling hours, meager pay, and pervasive culture of harassment that has long plagued this field. It’s been a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows, but one thing is becoming increasingly clear: workers are tired of being treated as disposable assets.

In 2023, some major companies in the industry have formed unions for their employees. Microsoft’s QA staff at ZeniMax were the first to unionize at the beginning of the year, and soon Microsoft’s neutrality agreement will extend to Activision Blizzard employees under their ownership. CD Projekt Red and Avalanche Studios workers also joined in, seeking a greater voice within their organizations. Elsewhere in the industry, employees are holding discussions with their colleagues with the intention of unionizing as well.

For several years now, we’ve kept track of stories involving gaming companies – encompassing video games, tabletop, and hardware sectors – where employees have been forming unions. As the union movement expands further in the global industry, we will continue to add new names to our growing list.

Microsoft and Activision Blizzard

In 2021, Activision Blizzard found itself under scrutiny following a lawsuit filed by California’s Civil Rights Department (previously known as the Department of Fair Employment and Housing) alleging widespread sexism and harassment at the company. The publisher of popular games like “World of Warcraft” and “Call of Duty” was also sued by Activision Blizzard itself in 2022 over this matter. This lawsuit sparked a series of accusations and legal actions, including an $18 million settlement with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In response, more than 1,000 employees walked out in protest in July 2021, and organizing efforts have persisted since then. All three unions representing the company’s workforce are composed of quality assurance workers. These workers often feel undervalued, subjected to low wages, insecure contracts, and excessive workloads.

Activision Blizzard has consistently taken actions to delay union formation, insisting that all employees at the various studios have a say in union votes, not only those in the QA department. Several accusations of unlawful labor practices have been lodged against the company, accusing it of anti-union sentiment and union suppression.

During the process of unionization at the company, Activision Blizzard changed the status of all their contractual workers into permanent employees – a success that workers credit to their organizing activities.

Activision Blizzard is predicted to be bought by Microsoft for approximately $68.7 billion. However, the US Federal Trade Commission has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft to block this acquisition. Following the announcement of the deal, Microsoft made a commitment to the Communications Workers of America not to disrupt their union activities within the company.

At various ZeniMax studios, QA employees expressed their intention to form a union. This development escalated into unionization efforts at Activision Blizzard following Microsoft’s acquisition of the company in 2023.

Activision Central QA

As a gamer excitedly following the latest news in the gaming industry, I’d put it this way: I was thrilled to learn that around 600 QA testers at Activision’s main office, including those from various branches, have formed a union under the Communication Workers of America (CWA) umbrella. This makes Activision the first company in this sector to experience such a unionization following Microsoft’s acquisition. The workers benefited greatly from the neutrality agreement, which allowed them to vote on union representation privately and securely. Microsoft officially acknowledged the union after the internal vote was completed.

Bethesda Game Studios

Approximately 241 employees at Bethesda Game Studios have joined the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union. This labor organization encompasses three offices: the primary location in Rockville, Maryland, and subsidiaries in Dallas and Austin, Texas. CWA described this as Microsoft’s first “company-wide” union, covering various job roles such as artists, engineers, programmers, and designers. Microsoft acknowledged the union’s formation.

In June, a group of 117 employees at Bethesda’s Montreal office in Canada applied to form a union with the Canadian branch of the Communications Workers of America (CWA). It is important to note that this group consists of workers from various job titles. Currently, Bethesda’s Quality Assurance team in Montreal is represented by the ZeniMax Workers United union.

Blizzard Albany

Blizzard Albany, previously named Vicarious Visions, is currently contributing to Blizzard Entertainment’s Diablo series, specifically the upcoming “Diablo 4.” This studio was the second one inside Activision Blizzard to achieve unionization. In December 2022, their QA team members successfully voted for it with a unanimous decision of 14-0, despite various reported union-suppression attempts by the company, as claimed by the Communications Workers of America (CWA).

The next step for the group is to enter contract negotiations with Activision Blizzard.

Raven Software

Raven Software became the initial studio within Activision Blizzard to form a union, with the process initiated in December 2021 when QA employees from “Call of Duty: Warzone” staged a walkout in protest against perceived unfair terminations of contract workers. In January 2022, these QA staff members declared their intent to unionize and faced resistance from Activision Blizzard. The company aimed to restructure and invalidated the eligibility of the QA bargaining group for a vote. However, following hearings in court, the judge supported the QA union, known as Game Workers Alliance, which then successfully held their union election in May 2022 and are now represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA).

Proletariat

In December 2022, Boston-based game developer Proletariat, known for creating “Spellbreak,” filed a petition with the aim of unionizing. The studio was bought by Activision Blizzard six months prior in June 2022. Following the acquisition, “Spellbreak” was closed down, and the team has since been working on projects under the “World of Warcraft” umbrella. Proletariat sought representation from the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The proposed union would encompass all employees except management – approximately 60 individuals at present.

On January 24th, I learned from CWA’s announcement that they were pulling back their petition for a union vote at the workplace. As a gamer and an advocate for workers’ rights, it’s disappointing to hear this news. We’ll have to keep pushing for fair representation in the gaming industry.

ZeniMax

Approximately 300 ZeniMax Media QA employees have formed a union named ZeniMax Workers United, bypassing a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election due to Microsoft’s neutrality agreement. Instead, workers expressed their support for the union through signed authorization cards or an online platform. A significant majority of these 300 employees endorsed the union, and Microsoft acknowledged their decision.

At Activison Blizzard, the process was significantly faster than the usual method, as demonstrated in their recent projects. The labor union, ZeniMax Workers United, represents employees from Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, and ZeniMax Online, located in their Maryland and Texas offices.

After making their selection, ZeniMax will then initiate contract talks by designating a negotiation team.

Avalanche Studios

Approximately 20% of Avalanche Studios’ around 500 employees have joined unions, Unionen and Sveriges Ingenjörer, in Sweden to collectively negotiate terms with the company behind Just Cause, IGN reports. The discussions between the workers and Avalanche Studios management are currently underway.

In Sweden, the process of forming a union is distinct from that in the US and Canada. Unlike there, Swedish workers have the freedom to join unions without needing to go through elections overseen by labor boards. They can even establish local union committees to discuss terms with their employers. According to IGN, one proposed modification in labor contracts could be a four-day workweek. Following negotiations, these agreements last for two years once they’ve been signed.

Approximately two-thirds (69%) of the Swedish labor force belong to unions, as reported by the Medlings Institutet and passed on from the Commercial Federation of Iceland, an Icelandic union confederation. The mean for office workers, such as those in the video game sector, hovers around 74%. While union membership is commonplace in Sweden, this marks the initial instance of collective bargaining between unions and Avalanche Studios, according to IGN.

I’m thrilled to share that during Microsoft’s 2021 E3 presentation, Avalanche Studios unveiled their upcoming game titled “Contraband.” This new adventure is predicted to exclusively grace the screens of Xbox Series X and Windows PC platforms.

Anemone Hug

As a long-time observer of the game industry, I’ve witnessed its dynamic growth and evolution over the years. One trend that has particularly piqued my interest is the increasing unionization efforts not just in the United States but also in other parts of the world, specifically Canada.

Cards Against Humanity

In 2020, employees at Cards Against Humanity, the makers of the popular card game, formed a union with Chicago and Midwest Regional Joint Board of Workers United after reports surfaced alleging a problematic workplace culture with racist and sexist undertones. The company’s management acknowledged the union, and following successful negotiations, the employees secured improved benefits. Among these new perks was a successorship clause, which would ensure the union’s continuation if the owners were to sell the business.

Workers at Cards Against Humanity were likely the first in their industry to unionize.

CD Projekt Red

CD Projekt Red employees in Poland established the Polish Game Developers Union in reaction to the company’s 2023 layoffs announced in October. This union welcomes membership not just from CD Projekt Red team members, but also from any game developers based in Poland.

After the 2023 round of job cuts, we began discussing the formation of a union in the Polish Gamedev Workers Union. This sudden event caused significant stress and instability, negatively impacting our mental wellbeing. The union aims to provide greater security, transparency, and better safeguards during difficult times. We believe that mass layoffs pose a threat to the gaming industry, and we see unionizing as a means of protecting its future potential.

Corsair Gaming

Workers at Corsair Gaming’s Duluth, Georgia factory, including those in production and warehousing, have submitted a petition to unionize with Teamsters Local 728, as stated in an NLRB filing. The petition was submitted on August 18th. Approximately 72 full-time and part-time hourly employees are aiming to join the union, encompassing various roles such as assembly, customer service, engineering, and soldering – essentially, these individuals handle each Corsair product prior to shipping.

Corsair’s leadership has brought on board Littler Mendelson, a well-known law firm specializing in helping businesses prevent unionization, as seen in the cases of Apple and Starbucks.

Corsair Gaming is a US-based tech firm specializing in computer components such as power supplies and CPUs, plus gaming accessories like keyboards, headsets, and mice. Based in California, they have distribution centers in Georgia, California, Florida, and Taiwan. A union election petition solely concerns the labor force at their Georgia facility.

In late September, Corsair workers voted against joining the union.

Experis Game Solutions

Approximately 35 QA workers at Halo Infinite and Forza Motorsport, represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM,) endorsed unionization in late November. This group consisted of 42 individuals, comprised of test associates, software test engineers, and data software analysts.

As an avid fan and supporter of the hardworking individuals in the video game industry, I can’t help but empathize with the ongoing efforts of Experis union members. Just like countless others in this field, they are striving for improved compensation packages, enhanced benefits, and more favorable working conditions. The pressure to deliver top-notch results as major video game launches loom is a well-known issue within the industry, and these workers are determined to bring about positive change.

Keywords Studios

In June 2022, QA workers at Keywords Studios in Edmonton, Canada – similar to Anemone Hug – who contribute to BioWare’s “Dragon Age: Dreadwolf” project, chose to form a union. Their unionization process was facilitated by the Alberta Labour Relations Board, and they are now affiliated with United Food and Commercial Workers Canada Union, Local 401.

As a passionate supporter of KWS Edmonton United, I can tell you that our union came together in response to a return-to-office mandate from management which we felt was not in our best interests. With commuting costs eating into our already modest salaries and no paid sick days offered by the company, we felt it was essential to band together and advocate for change from within.

Paizo

In 2021, United Paizo Workers was established, making it one of the initial unions in the tabletop role-playing game publishing sector. Paizo, headquartered in Washington state, is a significant player in this industry, known for producing both Pathfinder and Starfinder. For quite some time, employees at the studio have voiced concerns regarding unequal compensation, harassment, and questionable management practices. In response to these allegations, Paizo chose to acknowledge the union’s existence. Collective bargaining sessions commenced shortly afterward.

In early December 2022, UPW and Paizo’s management came to a preliminary understanding on various matters such as compensation, remote work arrangements, vacation time, and working hours. Later in the year, during their union meeting in June, United Paizo Workers approved this agreed-upon contract. The collective bargaining process resulted in workers at Paizo receiving salary increases, maintained and expanded benefits packages, and stronger safeguards for intellectual property, as reported by UPW.

Sega of America

As an avid fan and supporter of Sega, I’m thrilled to share that back in April, a group of dedicated employees at Sega of America based in Irvine, California, took the significant step of filing for unionization with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) via the National Labor Relations Board. This courageous move was made with the intention of forming the Allied Employees Guild Improving Sega (AEGIS).

“For many of us at Sega, our job is more than just work – it’s a passion. Mohammad Saman, QA lead, expressed this excitement in a statement, sharing how organizing has allowed us to establish a long-term career. With the formation of our union, AEGIS-CWA, we gain the power to influence decisions affecting our working conditions and secure stability for our jobs. We’re eager to safeguard Sega’s existing strengths while contributing to its growth.”

Members of the game development team responsible for producing and releasing titles under the Sonic the Hedgehog and Persona brands are advocating for enhanced compensation packages, more defined career progression paths with regular promotions, and reasonable work hours with adequate staffing to prevent excessive workloads.

In early 2024, Sega of America’s top executives made the difficult decision to let go of 61 employees. However, the union successfully managed to preserve the jobs of 18 individuals during the ensuing negotiations.

TCGplayer

At TCGplayer, an eBay-owned trading card marketplace, employees managed to form a union following a tense period of negotiations with management. The Communications Workers of America submitted four complaints to the National Labor Relations Board for alleged unfair labor practices. Over 70% of the authentication center staff had previously signed authorization cards and subsequently filed a petition with the NLRB towards the end of January.

This time around, the CWA (Communications Workers of America) is speaking on behalf of the workforce. In the past, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) was involved. Due to the surge in popularity of card games, the company, TCGplayer, has expanded over the years and currently boasts a staff of approximately 600 employees. Among them are roughly 250 non-managerial workers based in the authentication center. These individuals perform various functions such as sorting, research, quality control, shipping, and other tasks related to processing cards.

On March 10, the workers at the Authentication Center in Syrqauge cast their votes for the union. One hundred thirty-six employees supported the union, while eighty-seven voted against it. Following this result, a TCGplayer representative expressed disappointment to TopMob over the team’s decision to discontinue their direct connection with TCGplayer. However, union members responded on Twitter that the formation of the union was not the end of their relationship but rather the start of something more significant.

TCGplayer union representatives have accused eBay management of refusing to negotiate on a union contract in the past five months following the election. On July 31, the TCGplayer union submitted an unfair labor practice claim against the company for allegedly using “legal and illegal delaying tactics,” as stated in a press release.

A TCGplayer representative provided the following statement to TopMob:

Initially, TCGplayer sought help from the NLRB’s Region 3 office to determine if our Operations Leads were considered supervisors, making them unable to be represented by the CWA. The CWA opposed our request, and Region 3 chose to postpone addressing the matter until after the union vote. As a result, this significant concern remains unsettled, causing frustration for both parties involved. Despite our disappointment with the delay, we will adhere to the NLRB’s established procedures.

Tender Claws

As a big fan of Indie studio Tender Claws based in Los Angeles, I’m thrilled to share that we, the team, put forth a union petition in July 2022. Our proposed union, named Tender Claws Human Union, pays homage to our game “Virtual Virtual Reality,” where in-game characters form unions for human workers of AI. With management’s recognition and CWA representation on board, this is an exciting step towards collective bargaining and better working conditions for us at Tender Claws!

In December, the Human Union of Tender Claws reached a preliminary deal with the studio. This accord included establishing clear wage structures, implementing LGBTQ+ friendly benefits, and introducing new perks such as dental coverage, vision care subsidies, a retirement savings plan, life insurance, and an education grant for all union members. Additional industry-specific terms were also incorporated into the agreement.

I’m thrilled beyond words as a game developer at Tender Claws, we’ve made it! Reaching the end of this process is an accomplishment I’ll always be proud of. The team spirit here at Tender Claws has always been exceptional. I can’t express enough gratitude towards my incredible colleagues who put in countless hours to make this historic contract a reality.

Vodeo Games (defunct)

Videogame company Vodeo Games introduced their initial and sole production, titled “Beast Breaker,” which combines turn-based mechanics with a hint of Peggle‘s charm. Regrettably, Vodeo Games had to close shop in 2022 because they ran out of financial resources. However, the influence of their team members on the gaming industry remains noteworthy: Videogame Workers United, backed by the CWA, marked the establishment of the first union in North America within the video game sector.

Workinman Interactive

As a big fan of Workinman Interactive, I’m thrilled to share that this innovative gaming company is taking a significant step towards unionization. They are filing for an election with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees to secure representation. Known for creating games based on popular licenses from brands like Disney, Fisher Price, Atari, and Nickelodeon (think “SpongeBob’s Game Frenzy” and “Super Brawl World”), Workinman Interactive also crafts captivating interactive attractions, exhibits, and immersive virtual and augmented reality experiences. By joining forces with a union, they aim to strengthen their team and continue delivering top-notch entertainment.

A large number of employees at Workinman Interactive requested a union representation ballot from the National Labor Relations Board when management refused to grant union recognition on their own. It was announced by IATSE on September 27th that these employees had unanimously approved the union in a vote. The union is predicted to consist of approximately 20 members, including project managers, artists, developers, and assistants.

“My coworkers each gave their best efforts to this project,” developer Joel Shuart expressed. “They’ve all made significant contributions, helping us reach a solid foundation for equal negotiations with management. There is still more to accomplish, but I hope our success serves as motivation for those in the gaming industry. Remember, collective action holds the power to bring about change and safeguard what truly matters to us.”

The union at Workinman Interactive is a pioneering member of IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees), which boasts over 168,000 members across various crafts, technical, and art roles in the entertainment sector – encompassing films, events, television, and now videogames.

CEO Roy Contreras of Workinman Interactive assured TopMob in August that the company would acknowledge the election results, whether favorable or not. He further expressed the team’s backing and recognition of their employees’ right to unionize. Subsequently, the Workinman Interactive union will commence contract negotiations with management, but as of now, the talks have yet to be arranged.

As a seasoned labor journalist with years of experience covering the unionization movement in various industries, I’ve seen firsthand how the tide is shifting towards workers’ rights and collective bargaining. The recent developments in the tech and gaming sectors are no exception.

December 12, 2022 Update: We’ve made revisions to this article based on the preliminary labor contract reached between Tender Claws Human Union and other parties involved.

March 11, 2024: We’ve made some revisions to this article. The Activision Central QA union has been added, and all Activision Blizzard unions have been shifted under Microsoft’s umbrella to signify the acquisition.

Update (July 22): This story has been updated to include the Bethesda Game Studios unions.

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