World of Warcraft Devs Have Formed One of the Biggest Unions in Gaming

The recent unionization of over 500 World of Warcraft developers at Activision Blizzard, facilitated by Microsoft’s acquisition and pledge to honor a labor neutrality agreement, marks a significant milestone in the video game industry.

Key factors enabling unionization: Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard and the company’s commitment to a labor neutrality agreement played a crucial role in creating an environment that supported workers’ efforts to unionize:

• The labor neutrality agreement, which became active 60 days after the acquisition, allowed workers to explore collective bargaining without fear of retaliation.
• Prior to the agreement, many developers were hesitant to show interest in unionization due to concerns about potential backlash from management.

Organizing strategies and challenges: The World of Warcraft developers employed various tactics to build support for unionization and overcome communication barriers:

• Organizers initially distributed fliers to gauge interest and build awareness among colleagues.
• One-on-one conversations were essential for discussing the union, as it was difficult to communicate openly with employees before the labor neutrality agreement.
• Setting up tents on the company campus provided a visible and accessible space for people to obtain information about the union.

Defining the union’s scope and goals: The newly formed union, named The World of Warcraft Game Makers Guild, aimed to include all game creators essential to the development process:

• The union fought to ensure that all key roles, such as writers, sound designers, and producers, were included in the same group.
• The union’s bargaining committee will focus on issues like pay equity, remote work policies, transparency around promotions, and job security amidst industry layoffs.
• Concerns about the impact of AI on the industry have also emerged as a significant topic for the union to address.

Broader implications for the gaming industry: The successful unionization efforts at Activision Blizzard and Bethesda Game Studios, both Microsoft-owned companies, could signal a shift in the video game industry’s labor landscape:

• Microsoft’s willingness to voluntarily recognize unions at its subsidiaries may encourage other game developers to pursue collective bargaining.
• The World of Warcraft developers’ union, spanning multiple departments and over 500 employees, demonstrates the potential for larger-scale unionization efforts in the industry.
• As the gaming industry grapples with layoffs and the growing influence of AI, unions may play an increasingly important role in advocating for workers’ rights and shaping the future of game development.

Looking ahead: While the formation of The World of Warcraft Game Makers Guild represents a significant step forward for labor rights in the video game industry, the union still faces important challenges and uncertainties:

• The union must elect its bargaining committee and negotiate with management to secure the desired improvements in pay, working conditions, and job security.
• The long-term impact of the union on Activision Blizzard’s operations and the broader industry remains to be seen, as the company navigates the challenges of a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
• As more game developers potentially pursue unionization, the industry may need to adapt its labor practices and find a balance between the interests of workers and the demands of a highly competitive market.