Labor & Unionization

Keep up with the latest news and expert commentary on Labor & Unionization within the game industry.

A internal shot of the Bethesda office featuring artwork from Skyrim
Production
Bethesda union slams Xbox for offering the 'bare legal minimum in terms of severance'Bethesda union slams Xbox for offering the 'bare legal minimum in terms of severance'
byChris Kerr
Jul 23, 2026
1 Min Read
Protestors outside Microsoft's HQ in Redmond
Production
Unions take legal action against Microsoft for allegedly mishandling Xbox layoffsUnions take legal action against Microsoft for allegedly mishandling Xbox layoffs
byChris Kerr
Jul 16, 2026
1 Min Read
A pen resting on a paper contract
Production
UK union launches free resource to decode video game writing contracts
UK union launches free resource to decode video game writing contracts
Jul 15, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
A group of union protestors holding smoke canisters outside the office of a video game company
Business
IWGB Game Workers union forms 'redundancy taskforce' to defend workers' rights
IWGB Game Workers union forms 'redundancy taskforce' to defend workers' rights
Jul 15, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
Union members and supporters protest outside the office of BARB
Business
'A kick in the teeth:' Game workers protest alleged misconduct at MindsEye developer Build A Rocket Boy
'A kick in the teeth:' Game workers protest alleged misconduct at MindsEye developer Build A Rocket Boy
Jul 13, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
The OneBGS logo overlaid on a black background
Business
'We mean business:' Xbox union workers fighting back with 'Save Our Devs' rally on July 15
'We mean business:' Xbox union workers fighting back with 'Save Our Devs' rally on July 15
Jul 10, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
Artwork featuring characters from core Bethesda franchises including Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and Starfield
Business
'Used, abused, and discarded:' CWA Canada slams Microsoft over handling of Bethesda layoffs
'Used, abused, and discarded:' CWA Canada slams Microsoft over handling of Bethesda layoffs
Jul 8, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
The UVW logo on a purple background
Business
Union workers establish hardship fund to support devs impacted by layoffs
Union workers establish hardship fund to support devs impacted by layoffs
Jul 2, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
The protagonist of Assassin's Creed Black Flag defends himself from a sword strike
Business
Ubisoft Barcelona strikes over proposed layoffs
Ubisoft Barcelona strikes over proposed layoffs
Jul 1, 2026
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1 Min Read
byDiego Argüello,Contributing Editor, News
A group of protesting Rockstar workers, IWGB union members, and supporters outside Take-Two House in London
Production
Rockstar accused of ignoring pay inequity, mandating crunch, and weaponizing bonuses
Rockstar accused of ignoring pay inequity, mandating crunch, and weaponizing bonuses
Jul 1, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
A screenshot from Magic the Gathering Arena
Business
Magic: The Gathering Arena developers have successfully unionized
Magic: The Gathering Arena developers have successfully unionized
Jun 25, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
The Quantic Dream logo on signage on the company's Paris office
Business
French union STJV to commence national strike outside Quantic Dream
French union STJV to commence national strike outside Quantic Dream
Jun 22, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
A photograph of the Rockstar North office in Edinburgh
Business
Rockstar suffers legal blow in union busting dispute as trial date set
Rockstar suffers legal blow in union busting dispute as trial date set
Jun 17, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
Lucia from Grand Theft Auto VI punches a boxing bag
Business
The Rockstar Game Workers Union breaks cover
The Rockstar Game Workers Union breaks cover
May 28, 2026
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1 Min Read
byDiego Argüello,Contributing Editor, News
Key artwork for Magic: The Gathering Arena
Business
Report: Wizards of the Coast is trying to discourage workers from unionizing
Report: Wizards of the Coast is trying to discourage workers from unionizing
May 26, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
A piece of pottery from Kiln, ready to fight
Business
Double Fine petitions to unionize
Double Fine petitions to unionize
May 11, 2026
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1 Min Read
byDanielle Riendeau,Editor-in-Chief
EA Sports signage at the EA Vancouver Player Experience Lab in Burnaby, British Columbia
Business
CWA Canada president says Saudi buyout of EA should trigger 'virtually every alarm bell'
CWA Canada president says Saudi buyout of EA should trigger 'virtually every alarm bell'
May 6, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
The UWOTC—CWA on a red background
Business
Wizards of the Coast declines to voluntarily recognize game worker union
Wizards of the Coast declines to voluntarily recognize game worker union
May 5, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
The United Wizards of the Coast—CWA logo on a black background
Business
Magic: The Gathering Arena devs are unionizing to deliver genAI and layoff protections
Magic: The Gathering Arena devs are unionizing to deliver genAI and layoff protections
Apr 27, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
An IWGB Game Workers Union sticker on a wall outside the Build A Rocket Boy office
Business
Union workers take legal action against Build A Rocket Boy over alleged privacy violations
Union workers take legal action against Build A Rocket Boy over alleged privacy violations
Apr 21, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
The Ubisoft logo (a white swirl) on a background featuring the aurora borealis
Business
Ubisoft Halifax union members agree settlement after studio closure
Ubisoft Halifax union members agree settlement after studio closure
Apr 16, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
CWA union members and supporters rally together at GDC Festival of Gaming
Production
Union workers send a message to game industry execs: 'Let go of the power now, or be forced to let go of it later.'
Union workers send a message to game industry execs: 'Let go of the power now, or be forced to let go of it later.'
Mar 23, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
A video game controller with menacing eyes
Production
Direct-join union UVW-CWA now has 550 members
Direct-join union UVW-CWA now has 550 members
Mar 13, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
The UVW-CWA logo on a red background next to the words 'We Don't Play With ICE'
Production
Unionized game workers launch petition to protect immigrants from ICE agents
Unionized game workers launch petition to protect immigrants from ICE agents
Mar 13, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
A headshot of Mega Man in his traditional blue armour
Business
Capcom accused of ditching union contracts on Mega Man: Dual Override
Capcom accused of ditching union contracts on Mega Man: Dual Override
Mar 11, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
A lone wanderer sat next to a campfire in Hyper Light Drifter
Business
'If we love this work, we have to protect it:' Heart Machine workers secure voluntary union recognition
'If we love this work, we have to protect it:' Heart Machine workers secure voluntary union recognition
Mar 9, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
A statue of an Orc from World of Warcraft in the Blizzard Austin office
Business
QA workers at Blizzard ratify union contract with Microsoft
QA workers at Blizzard ratify union contract with Microsoft
Feb 2, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
A photograph of a CWA unionisation leaflet distributed at GDC 2025
Business
82 percent of US-based game developers support unionization
82 percent of US-based game developers support unionization
Jan 29, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
A photograph of the Rockstar North office in Scotland, UK
Business
Why would a UK judge deny fired Rockstar workers interim relief?
Why would a UK judge deny fired Rockstar workers interim relief?
Jan 16, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
The Ubisoft logo overlaid on a photograph of the Ubisoft Halifax office
Business
'It had nothing to offer:' Halifax union lambasts Ubisoft after first talks following studio closure
'It had nothing to offer:' Halifax union lambasts Ubisoft after first talks following studio closure
Jan 15, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
Key artwork for Ubisoft Halifax mobile title Assassin's Creed Rebellion
Business
Ubisoft to consider increasing compensation for laid off Halifax workers
Ubisoft to consider increasing compensation for laid off Halifax workers
Jan 13, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
The Ubisoft logo overlaid on a photograph of the Halifax office
Business
CWA Canada seeking answers from Ubisoft lawyers over Halifax closure
CWA Canada seeking answers from Ubisoft lawyers over Halifax closure
Jan 9, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
Ubisoft Halifax signage on the wall at the Canadian studio
Business
Update: Ubisoft closes Halifax studio weeks after workers vote to unionize
Update: Ubisoft closes Halifax studio weeks after workers vote to unionize
Jan 7, 2026
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1 Min Read
byChris Kerr,Senior Editor, News
A cartoonish Assassin's Creed character makes a daring leap
Business
Ubisoft Halifax workers form a union
Ubisoft Halifax workers form a union
Dec 23, 2025
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1 Min Read
byDanielle Riendeau,Editor-in-Chief
Business
Who killed the game industry? Union workers make splash at Game Awards protest
'Who killed the game industry?' Union workers make splash at Game Awards protest
Dec 19, 2025
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1 Min Read
byBryant Francis,Senior Editor

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