All game industry unions, explained

Change is happening in the gaming industry. Over the past decade of hard work, done via social media, at conferences like the Game Developers Conference and through the hallways of gaming events, workers have formed unions to end decades of harassment, overwork and low salaries. As workers strive to effect meaningful and sustainable changes, unions are growing in the gaming industry.

Industry change is following a nationwide trend in worker organization: Over the past few years, there’s been an uptick in union elections and unfair labor complaints as workers vow to make change in their workplaces. You can see this reflected in headlines, too — alongside union efforts at Activision Blizzard and Microsoft, campaigns are ongoing at major corporations like Apple, Google, and Starbucks.

These are gaming companies that have workers who are joining unions. We’ll keep this list updated as more unions pop up across the industry.

Activision Blizzard

Image by David McNew/AFP via Getty Images

Activision Blizzard made headlines in 2021 after California’s Civil Rights Department (formerly called the Department of Fair Employment and Housing) sued the World of WarcraftCall of Duty publisher and Call of Duty editor over widespread harassment and sexism. (Activision Blizzard filed a lawsuit against the CRD for the same reason in 2022. It sparked a series of lawsuits and accusations, with one settled $18million suit against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Workers also took action. More than 1000 workers marched out of the workplace in July 2021. Since then, organizing efforts continue. Its three unions — two officially recognized through National Labor Relations Board elections — are entirely made up of quality assurance workers. QA workers feel often overlooked and subject to poor pay, insecure contracts, and overwork.

Activision Blizzard continues to oppose union efforts and maintains that every worker at each studio should be eligible for the elections. Multiple labor grievances have been brought against Activision Blizzard, alleging that the company is anti-union sentiment and busting unions.

As union efforts were underway at the company, Activision Blizzard converted all its contract workers to full-time employees — a win workers attribute to organizing efforts.

Microsoft expects Activision Blizzard to be purchased as part of the $68.7billion deal. In an attempt to contest the deal, the United States Federal Trade Commission sued Microsoft. Microsoft announced the agreement and signed an impartiality agreement with Communications Workers of America. This agreed to not interfere with labor efforts within the company. Some consider the deal on Microsoft’s part an attempt to ease the acquisition through the FTC, but regardless, it benefits the workers at Microsoft and potentially Activision Blizzard should the deal go through.

Blizzard Albany

Blizzard Albany, formerly known as Vicarious Visions, is working on Blizzard Entertainment’s Diablo franchise, including the upcoming Diablo 4. Activision Blizzard’s second studio was the first to unite. QA workers in the area won their vote 14-0 on December 20, 2022. This victory followed a string of allegedly union-busting actions, according the CWA.

Next, the group will enter into contract negotiations with Activision Blizzard.

Raven Software

Raven Software was the first Studio within Activision Blizzard that merged, which effort began in December 2021. Warzone: Call of DutyTo protest the unfair dismissals of contract workers, QA workers walked off of work. Activision Blizzard resisted the unionization of QA workers in January 2022. Management tried to restructure Activision Blizzard and make the QA bargaining group ineligible for voting. After hearings, a judge ruled in favor the QA union. Raven Software workers (called Game Workers Alliance) won their union vote and were represented by the CWA.

Proletariat

Proletariat in Boston announced late December 2022 that they had filed their union petition. The Spellbreak Activision Blizzard purchased developer in June 2022 SpellbreakThe team has been reorganized and is working to fix the problem. World of Warcraft. The NLRB is yet to plan an election. Proletariat represents the CWA, which is also represented at Activision Blizzard’s other unionized studios.

Proletariat’s proposed unit includes all positions outside of management — around 60 workers currently.

Anemone Hug

Image by Blackbird Interactive/Focus Home Interactive

The United States isn’t the only country that has union footholds within the gaming industry. Canadian studios are making efforts to organize their work environments. Anemone Hug Interactive was the developer. Shipbreaker Today, she is working on an innovative game. She voted to unionize in 2022. Anemone Hug’s union is part of the Canadian Animation Guild, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 938. IATSE largely services entertainment workers internationally, while the British Columbian animation unit focuses on local animation workers — and now game developers.

Cards Against Humanity

Photo: Charlie Hall/Polygon

Cards Against Humanity employees, which make the game of the identical name, unionized with Chicago and Midwest Regional Joint Board of Workers United in 2020. This was after a report that alleged sexist and racist culture at the company. Cards Against Humanity management acknowledged the unit and successfully concluded contract negotiations to secure better benefits and a successorship clause. that could be enacted if owners sold the company.

Cards Against Humanity’s workers are likely to have been the first unionized in this industry.

Keywords Studios

Photo: BioWare Edmonton/Electronic Arts

Contract QA workers who support BioWare’s Dragon Age: Dreadwolf at Keywords Studios’ Edmonton location voted to unionize in June 2022. Keywords Studios’ Edmonton location is a Canadian-based studio. Their election was processed by the Alberta Labour Relations Board. They are organized under the United Food and Commercial Workers Canada Union (Local 401).

KWS Edmonton United, the union, began organizing after management implemented a return-to-office order that workers didn’t agree with — commuting costs too much given their low salaries and the studio doesn’t offer paid time off when sick, they said.

Microsoft

Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks

Microsoft’s labor neutrality agreement with the CWA went into effect in June 2022, when it promised not to interfere with union organizing at the company — including at Activision Blizzard, should the acquisition go through. This isn’t a common approach according to labor experts, and may have been influenced by the acquisition itself, which is under scrutiny by the FTC. However, workers can still organize through the CWA.

When ZeniMax Studio QA staff announced their intention to unify, we saw the reality of it firsthand.

ZeniMax

CWA has been a union for approximately 300 ZeniMax Media QA workers. The group, called ZeniMax Workers United, sidestepped an NLRB election due to Microsoft’s neutrality deal. Workers voted using union authorization cards and an online portal to show their interest in the company. A supermajority of those 300 workers voted “yes,” and Microsoft recognized the union.

Activision Blizzard demonstrated that it was much faster than traditional pathways. ZeniMax Workers United comprises workers from Bethesda Game Studios (id Software) and ZeniMax Online (both Maryland and Texas).

ZeniMax must now nominate and start contract negotiations.

Paizo

Paizo

United Paizo Workers was formed in 2021. It is one of the earliest unions in this industry. Paizo is one of the biggest tabletop role-playing game publishers; it’s responsible for both Pathfinder and Starfinder. Workers at the studio accused the Washington state-based company of pay inequity, harassment, and “managerial impropriety.” Paizo voluntarily recognized the union, and collective bargaining began shortly after.

UPW reached a tentative agreementPaizo management will discuss certain issues in December 2022 with respect to benefits, remote work and hours. The bargaining process will not stop until all terms are agreed to by both parties.

Tender Claws

Image: Tender Claws

Indie studio Tender Claws, based in Los Angeles, announced its union petition in July 2022 — the entire proposed unit supported the effort. TenderClaws Human Union is the new name for the group. This is a reference to their game. Virtual Virtual Reality This includes an in-game union of humans who work with AI. Tender Claws Management recognized the union and represented the CWA. Contract bargaining started in November.

Vodeo Games (now extinct)

Image: Vodeo Games

Vodeo Games’ debut — and only — title is Beast BreakerThe game is a combination of a turn-based and a little bit of Peggle. The 2022 closing of the videogame studio due to lack funds has resulted in its demise. However, the influence its workers had on the videogame industry is still significant: Vodeo Workers United represented by the CWA was the first union representing the North American videogame industry.