Unionization
Ongoing coverage on Unionization.
Latest coverage
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.
Evening Legal Briefs
Ubisoft has reached a settlement with workers who were laid off after attempting to unionize. This legal brief also mentions a separate settlement involving advertising firms and the Trump FTC over claims of boycotting conservative media.
CD Projekt Red veteran tells game devs to unionize after Epic adds 1,000 people to the layoff pile: "Collectively,…
CD Projekt Red localization QA analyst Paula Mackiewicz-Armstrong advocates for unionization in the game industry following mass layoffs at Epic Games. She emphasizes that collective action can influence corporate decisions, while individual employees are vulnerable to market forces. Mackiewicz-Armstrong points to union contracts as a means to negotiate terms for layoffs, such as severance pay and warning times.
IGN Entertainment and Dentsu Gaming announce Women in Gaming UK event
IGN Entertainment and Dentsu Gaming are hosting a Women in Gaming UK networking event on April 17, featuring panels, a headshot studio, and Meta hardware demos. The article also details the retirement of Brian Raffel, co-founder of Raven Software, after 36 years in the industry, highlighting his contributions to titles like Hexen and the Call of Duty franchise. Additionally, it briefly mentions the union contract ratified by Raven Software workers with Microsoft.
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.
Trump labor board tells Amazon to negotiate with Staten Island warehouse union
The Trump administration's labor board has ordered Amazon to recognize and bargain with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union for its Staten Island warehouse workers. This ruling is the latest development in a multiyear dispute over pay, benefits, and safety, though Amazon plans to appeal, citing improper influence on the election. This marks a significant victory for the union, which has been fighting for recognition since workers voted to unionize in 2022.
On the ground at GDC: how are devs responding to industry calamity?
Developers attending the Game Developer Conference expressed widespread uncertainty and anxiety due to industry layoffs and economic instability. Many believe the traditional model is broken, with a focus shifting towards leaner operations, niche audiences, and the potential impact of AI and unionization on the future of game development.
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.
IOI Partners disowns MindsEye, Krafton collabs with arms dealer, and more cuts at Ubisoft - Patch Notes #44
Several major gaming companies faced significant news this past fortnight. IOI Partners disowned the game MindsEye, Krafton announced a $1 billion partnership with a defense firm while simultaneously losing a lawsuit, and Ubisoft underwent restructuring leading to layoffs and the closure of Red Storm Entertainment's game development. Additionally, unionized game workers are petitioning for immigrant protections, Pokemon Pokopia achieved strong sales, and Nvidia's DLSS 5 technology faced backlash from developers.
Beast Breaker is back – Vodeo Games' hidden gem is bouncing its way to Steam!
Vodeo Games' tactical RPG Beast Breaker is set to launch on Steam on March 26th, more than four years after its initial release. The game, known for its unique mouse-based monster-bouncing gameplay, is being brought to a wider audience through a publishing venture with Kando Factory. This release marks a significant moment for Vodeo Games, the first North American studio to unionize, which had previously closed due to funding issues.
MMO Business Roundup: Unionized game devs march through GDC, 2K Games mocap devs unionize
The game industry saw significant unionization news this week, with unionized developers marching at GDC to advocate for workers' rights, including protections against AI and crunch. Additionally, motion capture performers at 2K Games have formed a union, securing a contract with benefits and protections against AI likeness reproduction. NCsoft also released a trailer for its tactical shooter Defect.
Mega Man 11 actor won't return for the next game in the series because Capcom refuses to work under a union…
Veteran voice actor Ben Diskin, known for voicing Mega Man in Mega Man 11, will not return for the upcoming Mega Man: Dual Override due to Capcom's refusal to work with unionized voice actors. This decision highlights a dispute over labor practices within the gaming industry.
