The growth of unionization in the gaming sector persists, with Activision’s user research staff recently establishing a union under Microsoft‘s management.
On Friday, according to a statement from the Communication Workers of America (CWA), a large majority of research staff members cast their votes in favor of unionization. Consistent with its promises made in 2022, Microsoft has decided to acknowledge and respect this union.
Nicolaas VanMeerten, a quantitative user researcher and part of the organizing team, expressed enthusiasm about uniting with other game creators from various video game companies to demonstrate the potential when workers can freely form solidarity in the workplace. The events of 2023 and 2024 layoffs motivated many of us into action, and now we have the opportunity to support one another through unionization,” said Nicolaas VanMeerten.
The research team from Activision is now part of a larger union comprising approximately 2,000 workers spread across Microsoft’s gaming sectors, including the quality assurance teams at Activision, Bethesda Game Studios, Blizzard Entertainment (specifically their World of Warcraft division), ZeniMax Online Studios, and ZeniMax Quality Assurance.
The recently established organization aims to secure higher wages, improved job stability, and clearer guidelines regarding promotions.
As a bystander, I’ve observed that Activision’s user research plays a crucial role in supporting a variety of their popular games, including the highly successful Call of Duty series. They collect and analyze player data and gather feedback to help identify and address issues within these titles.
Unions are continuing to grow across gaming
Just heard some exciting news! Following the creation of a cross-industry gaming union by the CWA, which now extends to workers in both the United States and Canada, I’m thrilled to know that this inclusive union is open for any gaming professionals – including those who’ve recently found themselves out of work from various companies. This move brings a sense of solidarity and security within our gaming community!
As an onlooker, I’ve noticed a rapidly growing union titled United Video Game Workers-CWA, which made its debut at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2025. Since then, its membership has swelled past the 350 mark and continues to expand daily.
Approximately 20,000 game industry workers have been let go over the past few years, leading to numerous studio closures and abandoned projects. With companies persistently reducing workforce while striving for greater profits, employees are now speaking up and advocating for a role in decision-making discussions.
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2025-03-25 19:39