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Bethesda Developers Are Threatenign Strike Action Over “Underpayment”

BBG News

Summary

  • ZeniMax Workers United has authorized a strike vote, following difficult, continued negotiations with Microsoft and ZeniMax.
  • Over 300 quality assurance testers at Bethesda are now prepared to take strike action, in an attempt to push for fair wages.

At present, being a game developer can be quite challenging due to several factors: excessive use of generative AI or frequent layoffs. Many developers are advocating for improved work conditions, but one positive aspect is that there has been a growth in the formation of video game unions during the last few years.

One example of a labor union is ZeniMax Workers United, formed by employees from studios owned by ZeniMax Media, such as Bethesda. This union started negotiations with Microsoft and ZeniMax after its establishment in 2023, and it received praise for Microsoft’s decision to acknowledge unions within the company and engage in a cooperative manner with them.

Bethesda Developers Are Threatening To Go On Strike Due To “Underpayment”

Approximately two years have passed, and Microsoft appears to be displaying less collaborative behavior, making it challenging to reach agreements during negotiations. A recent tweet from ZeniMax Workers United discloses that more than 300 quality assurance testers at Bethesda are contemplating a strike, following the approval of a vote authorizing such action.

As a dedicated QA tester on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, I’ve found myself consistently battling for the basics that should be standard in any gaming project.

According to information from a press release by the CWA, as reported by Kotaku, senior quality assurance tester Zachary Armstrong stated that employees are dissatisfied with low pay and expensive “Return to Office” measures, and they feel that Microsoft and ZeniMax are not giving their work the value it deserves.

We regret that things have escalated to this point, but if Microsoft and ZeniMax persistently refuse to offer us a fair compensation reflecting the worth of our work in creating these games, we’ll make it clear to them by taking action, demonstrating the true value of our labor.

It’s important to point out that the ongoing negotiations between Microsoft and ZeniMax may potentially lead to a strike, which in turn could disrupt the progress of various games under development at Bethesda such as Doom: The Dark Ages and The Elder Scrolls 6. Whether they choose to cooperate remains to be seen.

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2025-04-02 02:09

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