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Psychonauts developer Double Fine are the latest Microsoft-owned studio to unionise
Double Fine Productions, the Microsoft-owned studio behind Psychonauts, has announced its decision to unionize with the Communications Workers of America. The union will include all 42 employees at the studio. This move follows similar unionization efforts by other developers owned by Microsoft, amidst recent layoffs within the company.
Double Fine is unionising at Xbox Game Studios
Double Fine, the developer of Psychonauts, has filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to unionize with the Communications Workers of America. This move involves 42 employees and follows similar unionization efforts within Microsoft's gaming divisions, including Activision Blizzard and Zenimax. While Microsoft has historically taken a neutral stance on unionization, the company has faced delays in collective bargaining with previously formed unions.
Workers for Xbox studio Double Fine are forming a union
Workers at Xbox studio Double Fine, known for the Psychonauts series, are forming a labor union. The employees are organizing with the Communications Workers of America.
Double Fine has filed a petition to unionize in conjunction with Communications Workers of America
Double Fine has filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to unionize, in conjunction with the Communications Workers of America. The petition was filed on May 7, 2026, marking a significant step in the company's labor relations efforts.
First-party Xbox studio Double Fine is unionizing
First-party Xbox developer Double Fine, known for the Psychonauts series, has filed to unionize under the Communications Workers of America. The union would represent 42 employees, and the company leadership is requesting voluntary recognition from Microsoft, which has adopted a neutral stance.
"They responded only to the press": Wizards of the Coast miss deadline for recognising Magic: The Gathering Arena union
Wizards of the Coast has missed a deadline to voluntarily recognize the union formed by Magic: The Gathering Arena developers. The union, United Wizards of the Coast—CWA, claims management has only responded to press inquiries and is now awaiting a National Labor Relations Board petition. The union aims to address issues like layoffs, return-to-office mandates, and generative AI adoption.
Wizards of the Coast Fails to Recognize Magic: The Gathering Arena Union, the United Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast has declined to voluntarily recognize the newly formed United Wizards of the Coast union, which represents developers of Magic: The Gathering Arena. The union, partnered with the Communications Workers Association, had requested recognition by May 1st, citing a desire for sustainable workloads, AI protections, and brand stewardship. An official election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board will now be held in the coming weeks to determine union representation.
Amazon pilots playable game demos on Twitch
Amazon is testing a new feature on Twitch that allows users to play game demos directly through the streaming platform without downloading them. The test involved a 20-minute demo of Tarsier Studios' Reanimal, utilizing cloud-based streaming technology. Separately, developers at Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro, have announced plans to unionize with the Communications Workers of America, citing concerns over layoffs, remote work, and transparency.
Magic: The Gathering Arena devs announce plans to unionise
A supermajority of Magic: The Gathering Arena developers at Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro, have announced plans to unionize with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). This marks the first known unionization effort at Wizards of the Coast, driven by concerns over layoffs, remote work policies, and mandatory crunch. The workers are seeking protections against layoffs, safeguards for generative AI, and increased transparency and equity.
Magic: The Gathering Arena developers intend to form a union with the CWA
Developers at Wizards of the Coast, makers of Magic: The Gathering Arena, are organizing to form a union with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The union has filed for an election with the National Labor Relations Board, citing concerns over layoffs, wages, remote work policies, and workplace transparency. This effort follows similar unionization drives within the broader video game industry.
"This isn’t just something that affects Wizards of the Coast" - Magic: the Gathering Arena team vote to unionise for protection against layoffs, genAI and forced crunch
Developers of Magic: The Gathering Arena at Wizards of the Coast are organizing to unionize with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The union aims to secure better protections against layoffs, address generative AI usage, and prevent mandatory crunch. This move follows similar unionization efforts in the gaming industry and aims to give workers more say in workplace conditions and equity.
Magic: The Gathering Arena Developers Announce Official United Wizards of the Coast Worker's Union.
Developers of Magic: The Gathering Arena have announced the formation of the United Wizards of the Coast union, affiliated with the Communications Workers of America. The union has formally requested voluntary recognition from Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro, citing concerns over worker well-being, equity, AI usage, workload sustainability, and job security. The company has until May 1, 2026, to respond.
Magic: The Gathering Arena staff unionize with CWA, citing forced RTO, AI use, and crunch culture
Over one hundred Wizards of the Coast employees working on Magic: The Gathering Arena have formed a union called United Wizards of the Coast, partnering with the Communications Workers of America. The union cites issues such as forced return-to-office mandates, pay discrepancies, forced AI use, and crunch culture as reasons for organizing. This effort is part of a growing trend of unionization within the gaming industry.
Magic: The Gathering Arena devs are unionizing to deliver genAI and layoff protections
Developers of Magic: The Gathering Arena at Wizards of the Coast are seeking to unionize under the Communications Workers of America. The group, calling themselves United Wizards of the Coast—CWA, has requested voluntary recognition from Wizards of the Coast and its parent company Hasbro. They are seeking protections regarding layoffs, remote work, workloads, career pathways, and the use of generative AI tools.
Streamer Support, Mental Health Gaming, Final Fantasy for Good, and the UVW: Good in Gaming Vol. 3
This installment of Good in Gaming highlights various positive initiatives within the gaming community, including a mobile game called Finch that promotes mental health through habit tracking, a charity stream by Rashern for The Trevor Project that raised $1000, and the Final Fantasy V Four Job Fiesta which raises money for the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund. The article also touches on the ongoing efforts of the United Videogame Workers to advocate for better labor conditions and unionization within the game industry.
Union workers send a message to game industry execs: 'Let go of the power now, or be forced to let go of it later.'
Unionized video game workers attending the GDC Festival of Gaming sent a strong message to industry executives regarding power dynamics and recent mass layoffs. Speakers urged leaders to address worker concerns and consider the human impact of business decisions, warning that resistance to change will ultimately be futile.
Direct-join union UVW-CWA now has 550 members
The United Videogame Workers-CWA, a direct-join union for video game workers in the US and Canada, has reached approximately 550 members. Established in March of last year, the union aims to build worker power across the industry and is currently developing a 'Videogame Worker Bill of Rights'.
Unionized game workers launch petition to protect immigrants from ICE agents
Unionized game workers, represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and UVW-CWA, have launched a petition demanding employers implement 'Fourth Amendment workplaces.' This initiative calls for companies to refuse cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents unless presented with a judicial warrant. The campaign aims to protect immigrant workers within the industry from potential deportation and arbitrary arrests.
Hyper Light Drifter studio Heart Machine voluntarily recognises union
Indie developer Heart Machine has voluntarily recognized a union formed by 13 of its staff members, following several rounds of layoffs. Separately, Sumo Digital is partnering with Arm to evaluate new AI-powered neural technology for mobile game development, aiming to bring PC-quality graphics to mobile platforms.
Hyper Light Drifter studio workers form union after rounds of layoffs
Workers at independent game studio Heart Machine, known for Hyper Light Drifter, have formed a union with Communications Workers of America Local 9003. This move follows multiple rounds of layoffs at the studio, including the discontinuation of Hyper Light Breaker. The union aims to protect workers in the face of industry instability and increasing demands for employee voices to be heard.