Unionization
Ongoing coverage on Unionization.
Latest coverage
Rockstar UK Staff Will Vote on IWGB Union Recognition as GTA 6 Launches
Rockstar Games staff in the UK will vote on union recognition for the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain from November 12 to 26, coinciding with the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI. The potential recognition deal covers pay, overtime, and AI policies, aiming to make the IWGB the largest union in the UK games industry. This vote is separate from an ongoing tribunal concerning the dismissal of 31 employees, which the union alleges was union-busting.
Rockstar Games, IWGB to Vote on Union Formation Between November 12th and 26th
Rockstar Games and the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) have agreed to hold a union formation vote between November 12th and 26th. This vote will allow workers to have a say on issues including pay, overtime, and generative AI policies. The timing of the vote coincides with the pre-load and release of Grand Theft Auto 6 and a union-busting tribunal hearing.
Rockstar will hold union vote right on top of Grand Theft Auto 6 release
Rockstar employees will hold a union recognition vote between November 12-26, coinciding with the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6. The IWGB union aims to become the largest game industry union in the UK, addressing issues like pay, overtime, and AI policies. This vote occurs amidst past controversies, including employee firings that the union labeled as union busting.
Rockstar Games workers to vote on unionization right as Grand Theft Auto VI launches
Rockstar Games employees are set to vote on union recognition next month, a move that comes amid ongoing legal battles over alleged union busting. This vote coincides with the highly anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto VI, with the company's workers aiming to gain a stronger voice on issues like pay, overtime, and job security.
UK-based Rockstar devs will be putting their union recognition to a vote during GTA 6's launch next month
Rockstar Games employees in the UK will vote on union recognition with the Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) during the launch month of Grand Theft Auto 6. The vote, scheduled from November 12th to November 26th, coincides with an ongoing employment tribunal concerning alleged union-busting layoffs from a year prior. Union representatives express a desire for greater transparency regarding pay, overtime, and job security.
Wizards of the Coast declines to voluntarily recognize D&D and Studio X union drive
Wizards of the Coast has declined to voluntarily recognize the union drive by its Dungeons & Dragons and Studio X teams. Employees will now vote in a National Labor Relations Board election. The company stated it is not neutral on unionization and prefers direct dealings with staff, while highlighting existing benefits.
Unionized Activision QA workers authorize a strike after two years of stalled negotiations
Unionized Activision QA workers have authorized a strike after two years of stalled negotiations with the company. The union, representing 600 workers, is seeking wage increases, AI guardrails, and improved working conditions. Both sides accuse the other of bad-faith bargaining.
Activision QA United-CWA union vote to authorise strike, claims publisher has "failed to bargain in good faith over key issues"
Members of the Activision Quality Assurance United-CWA union have voted to authorize a strike, citing Activision Blizzard's alleged failure to bargain in good faith over key issues such as wages and AI guardrails. The union, which formed in March 2024, has been in negotiations for a first contract since August. Activision Blizzard stated they are working in good faith and have plans to prevent disruption to players.
Surprising no-one, Wizards of the Coast 'doesn't intend to voluntarily recognize' union efforts for the…
Wizards of the Coast has stated it does not intend to voluntarily recognize union efforts for its Dungeons & Dragons and Studio X employees, despite the union's commitment to achieving a workplace focused on wellness and collaboration. The company previously sent letters to employees encouraging them not to unionize and implying benefits could be renegotiated.
Activision Quality Assurance workers vote to authorize strike
Quality Assurance workers at Activision have voted to authorize a strike, giving the Communications Workers of America (CWA) the power to call a strike if negotiations with the company continue to stall. The workers are seeking wage increases, guardrails on AI usage, and better contractor and accommodation rights. A bargaining committee member criticized Activision's perceived bad-faith negotiations.
Rockstar 'union busting' tribunal extended to November 18th, days before GTA 6's release date
The employment tribunal between the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain and Rockstar Games has been extended to November 18th, just days before Grand Theft Auto 6's release. The case centers on allegations that Rockstar fired staff to prevent unionization efforts, a claim the company disputes, citing gross misconduct. Closing arguments will now take place in mid-November, with a judge's ruling to follow.
Report: Double Fine's union drive collapsed due to miscommunication and culture clash
A report details the collapse of Double Fine Productions' union drive in May 2026, attributing the failure to miscommunication and a clash between the studio's informal culture and US federal labor laws. The drive, reportedly the second at the company, was hampered by confusion over manager eligibility and internal conflicts, leading to its withdrawal.
Wizards of the Coast union expands, demands company stop pushing generative AI
The union representing employees at Wizards of the Coast, which publishes Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering, has expanded to include more teams and is demanding the company cease its push for generative AI adoption. Separately, Paramount Games Studio and Warner Bros. Games are merging under Skydance, with Tony Driscoll set to lead the combined gaming unit.
Wizards of the Coast Union Demands Company Stop Pushing Generative AI
Employees at Wizards of the Coast, including those working on Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering, have unionized and joined the UWOTC-CWA. In a letter to leadership, the union has demanded that Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast cease the use and promotion of generative AI.
D&D and Magic The Gathering developers unionize, allege Wizards of the Coast is pushing "adoption of LLMs and…
Developers behind Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering have unionized under United Wizards of the Coast - CWA, demanding voluntary recognition and protections against the company's push for AI adoption. The union cites leadership's disregard for team desires regarding LLMs and generative AI. Wizards of the Coast has until October 13 to respond to the union's request.
'This shows the power that comes from employees joining forces:' King signs collective bargaining agreement with union workers
King has signed a collective bargaining agreement with Swedish unions Engineers of Sweden and Unionen, averting a threatened strike. The agreement, reached after negotiations since May 2025, aims to give employees more influence over their work situations and the right to organize. This development follows recent layoffs within Microsoft's gaming division.
MMO Week in Review: Foreverrrrr
BlizzCon 2026 saw major announcements including a new open-world StarCraft shooter, Diablo V for 2029, and World of Warcraft Forever launching soon. The event also revealed World of Warcraft's next retail expansion, The Last Titan, and sparked controversy over World of Warcraft Forever's monetization. Other news included the sunsetting of Ship of Heroes, layoffs at Pantheon Rise of the Fallen, and business dealings involving ArcheAge.
State of the Unions: the rise of unionisation in games workplaces
The video games industry is experiencing a significant rise in unionization as workers seek better labor rights and protections against harsh working conditions. Unions like SAG-AFTRA, ZeniMax workers, and various groups at major studios have successfully advocated for improved pay, AI protections, and remote work policies. Representatives from IWGB, Solidaires Informatique, and the Polish Gamedev Workers Union highlight global progress and ongoing challenges, emphasizing the growing power of collective bargaining.
'It would have been insanity to take no action' - Fiery opening statements reveal Rockstar's culture of secrecy as tribunal against sacked GTA 6 employees begins
Rockstar Games and the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) presented opposing opening statements in a tribunal concerning the dismissal of 31 Rockstar North employees. The IWGB alleges Rockstar monitored a private Discord server used for union organizing and took action only after the union reached a recognition threshold, while Rockstar claims the dismissals were due to uncovered misconduct and breaches of confidentiality related to Grand Theft Auto 6 development.
Almost 1,900 Blizzard workers vote through a "historic" union contract securing protections against layoffs and gen-AI
Approximately 1,900 unionized workers at Blizzard Entertainment have ratified their first contract, securing protections against layoffs and mandating bargaining over the use of generative AI. This historic agreement provides enhanced severance and recall rights for employees across multiple game teams, including World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo.
