ZeniMax Media quality assurance workers reach tentative contract with Microsoft after almost two years

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Workers responsible for quality assurance at ZeniMax Media have come to a preliminary agreement with Microsoft following nearly two years of discussion.

According to a press release from the Communication Workers of America (CWA), it was announced on Friday that the union, known as ZeniMax Workers United, which consists of over 300 employees at studios working on Bethesda Softworks games such as Starfield and DOOM: The Dark Ages, has reached a preliminary contract agreement.

For quite some time now, video games have been leading earners in the entertainment sector. Regrettably, those who create these captivating games are frequently mistreated for their devotion and ingenuity. By forming unions, negotiating agreements, and speaking as a united front, workers can reclaim the autonomy that we all rightfully deserve, according to Jessee Leese, a QA tester at ZeniMax who is also a member of the bargaining committee for ZeniMax Workers United-CWA.

The contract encompasses various benefits such as general pay raises, increased base wages for employees, safeguards against unfair termination, dispute resolution mechanisms, and a system that acknowledges the contributions of quality assurance testers across multiple games by crediting them accordingly.

The proposed agreement additionally encompasses a prior understanding about AI in games, granting employees a voice in its application.

In the upcoming weeks, ZeniMax Employee Union will conduct sessions to clarify the terms of the contract. It’s anticipated that a vote to approve this contract will take place no later than June 20, 2025.

A long road to this point

In early 2023, ZeniMax Workers United became the first gaming union within Microsoft’s ranks, following a vote by QA workers. Notably, Microsoft decided to voluntarily acknowledge this union in accordance with their policy promoting neutrality, which they adopted during their pursuit of acquiring Activision Blizzard King.

2025 saw the union initiate negotiations for a new contract towards the end of the year, discussions that proved to be somewhat protracted before bearing results. In the early part of the same year, the union members decided to approve a potential strike should the negotiations fail to make headway.

The formation of ZeniMax Workers United as the initial gaming union within Microsoft isn’t an isolated incident; they have numerous companions in their struggle.

Over the past year, other game studios owned by Microsoft have formed unions, such as comprehensive ones at Bethesda Game Studios, ZeniMax Online Studios, and the teams behind Overwatch 2 and World of Warcraft from Blizzard Entertainment.

Indeed, it’s truly exciting for me to witness this! It’s no secret that there have been challenging moments, but the creators behind our beloved games truly deserve safeguards. And it appears that the unions at Microsoft are setting a commendable example in this regard.

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2025-05-30 20:39