CD Projekt Red Devs Form Union Following Layoffs

The developers at CD Projekt Red, the developer of Cyberpunk and Witcher 3, have joined forces to form a union. As reported by Eurogamer. Polish Gamedev Workers Union founders Lev Ki and Paweł Myszka say that all necessary documentation has been submitted but that the union hasn’t heard any response from CDPR management, according to the publication. 

A FAQ response on the website of the union reads: “We began talking about unionizing following the 2023 layoff wave when 9 percent (roughly 100 people) of Reds were laid off.” This event caused a great deal of anxiety and stress, which affected our mental health. We created this union as a response. A union provides greater security, more transparency, improved protection and stronger voices in crisis situations.

The above illustrates how employers often view their own interests as being in conflict with the employees’. While employees are the ones creating value in this arrangement, they lack any decision power in company-structure-related matters. It is for this reason that we must organize in order to face these situations with equal standing. “We believe the layoffs pose a threat to the video game industry, and that unionizing will help us preserve its potential.” 

Polish Gamedev Workers Union, a part of OZZ IP – a union that covers a wide range of sectors and firms in Poland – is the section for this group. The union says that it is “looking to create a collective”, and will “act as a system of support which actively protects employees, and has a powerful negotiating position.” Polish Gamedev Workers Union says it is focusing on just CDPR employees – Reds – right now to give the union a unique, common voice. 

In the FAQ, they state that their first goal is to attract more people. In order to create a dialogue with management, it has reached out the CDPR board. In addition, the union is currently in a so-called “trial phase” where it is establishing itself legally but does not have its full governing board in place. After the trial period, which ends in December, a union meeting will be held. 

Game Informer CDPR has been contacted to see if they will recognize the union voluntarily, or have a response or statement regarding its formation. This story will be updated if we learn more. 

Cyberpunk 2077 : Phantom Liberty screenshot

As mentioned previously, this union was formed after CDPR laid off three employees in three months earlier this summer. Twenty nine employees were laid off at The Molasses Flood, a studio it acquired in 2021 that is working on a Witcher game under the codename “Sirius,” in May, as noted by Eurogamer. CDPR then fired 30 workers from the Witcher Gwent Card spin-off development team. 100 people more were let go in July. 

The formation of this union comes just a couple of weeks after the release of CDPR’s latest, the Phantom Liberty expansion for Cyberpunk 2077 – read Game Informer Here’s a review. It follows a number of other unions formed across the industry in this year. Microsoft recognised a ZeniMax Studios’ union after a supermajority of votes, while in July Sega of America workers successfully voted for the creation of the largest multidepartment games union. 

CDPR had announced at this time of year a Cyberpunk title, Witcher titles, and an entirely new IP. 

[Source: Eurogamer]