Microsoft developers joining forces with Diablo associates, seeking genuine transformation, as over 450 Blizzard Entertainment staff unite in union.
Microsoft Gaming Teams Unionize Amidst Job Insecurity
In a move aimed at securing job stability and improving working conditions, numerous teams and studios under Microsoft Gaming have formed unions with the Communication Workers of America (CWA). These include Bethesda Game Studios, ZeniMax Online Studios, and various teams at Blizzard Entertainment.
The Diablo team, currently working on Diablo 4, is at the forefront of this movement. The team's connection to the CWA can be traced back to 2023, when they became part of the larger organization "Campaign to Organize Digital Employees" (CODE) affiliated with the CWA. Skye Hoefling, a senior software engineer II on Diablo, and Ryan Littleton, a game designer on the same team, are both members of the organizing committee.
The unionization efforts have been a response to multiple rounds of layoffs at Microsoft, including cuts at Xbox teams like ZeniMax and King. This job insecurity has had a chilling effect on remaining team members, making it harder for them to focus due to constant worry about their jobs.
The union allows these teams to focus on creating magical experiences for players instead of worrying about their job stability. It also provides a platform for them to organize across the industry to combat layoffs, passion tax, and crunch.
The acquisition of Activision Blizzard King by Microsoft has been a catalyst for unionization efforts within the gaming industry. So far, over 450 developers at Blizzard Entertainment, including the Diablo team, have joined the union. Notably, the ZeniMax QA workers and the Raven Software QA team have already ratified contracts with Microsoft.
Microsoft's neutrality policy towards unions, implemented in 2022 during the acquisition of Activision Blizzard King, has been put to the test since then. The gaming industry has seen a significant amount of worker movement over the last year, with multiple teams and studios organizing and forming unions.
The unionization efforts at Microsoft have been led by workers themselves. Kelly Yeo, a game producer on Diablo, is another member of the organizing committee. Many of these unionized teams are now working towards ratifying a contract.
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, it's clear that workers are banding together to make it a better place. The Diablo team's unionization is just one example of this trend, and it's likely that we'll see more teams following suit in the future.
