Blizzard workers rally together, accomplishing a notable first in pushing for better job conditions.
Unionization efforts in the gaming industry have seen a significant boost, with Microsoft's gaming division leading the charge. Over 3,000 workers across various studios have joined the Communications Workers of America (CWA), marking a milestone in organized labor presence in the traditionally nonunion game development industry.
Blizzard Entertainment Unionizes
One of the most notable developments is at Blizzard Entertainment, where over 500 developers, specifically those working on World of Warcraft, elected to form a union in 2024. More recently, over 160 workers at the Irvine location also joined the union. The union aims to preserve what makes Blizzard special, secure transparency, and ensure fair policies.
The Story and Franchise Development (SFD) team at Blizzard Entertainment has also formed a union, becoming the first in-house cinematic, animation, and narrative studio in the United States to do so. John Giarratana, cinematic producer and member of the organizing committee, expressed excitement about the union, stating it protects colleagues from misguided policies and instability due to layoffs. SFD handles stories, trailers, and legendary cinematics for games like Diablo 4, and also functions as a team of historians, archiving things as needed.
Raven Software's Union Contract
Raven Software, an Activision Blizzard-owned studio in Wisconsin, was the site of the first union formed at a major U.S. gaming company in 2022 by quality assurance workers. In August 2025, Raven’s QA team officially ratified their first union contract with Microsoft. This contract requires Microsoft to notify and bargain with the union over layoffs and benefits, though it does not fully prevent layoffs.
Microsoft's Supportive Stance
Microsoft's supportive stance toward unionization contrasts with many other tech giants. The company's newly formed Microsoft Gaming division, which absorbed Xbox Game Studios, ZeniMax Media, and Activision Blizzard after the $75.4 billion acquisition in late 2023, has pledged a neutral stance toward employee unionization efforts. This unusual neutrality among large tech firms has facilitated union organizing and voting processes that did not require full National Labor Relations Board elections.
Ongoing Challenges
Despite union gains, challenges remain. Microsoft’s recent announcement of large-scale layoffs (around 9,000 workers across the company, including the gaming division) raised criticism from CWA, reflecting ongoing tensions between workforce reductions and union protections.
Expanding Union Influence
Outside of Blizzard, wall-to-wall unions have organized at Bethesda Game Studios and ZeniMax Online Studios. Many Xbox studios are still grappling with the losses from the layoffs. Multiple projects have been canceled, including a new MMORPG from ZeniMax Online Studios.
In summary, unionization in Microsoft’s gaming divisions and subsidiaries is well underway, with significant recent developments notably at Blizzard Entertainment and Raven Software. This marks a significant shift in the gaming industry, with union influence expanding despite ongoing industry volatility and layoffs in 2025.
| Studio/Division | Union Status | Notes | |-----------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------------------| | Blizzard Entertainment | >500 developers unionized | Union for World of Warcraft developers; 160+ joined recently at Irvine location[2] | | Raven Software | Union formed 2022; contract ratified 2025 | First major U.S. gaming union contract ratified, including bargaining rights on layoffs[4][5] | | Other Microsoft Gaming Studios | Part of 3,000+ unionized workers | Various studios included; unionization growing due to Microsoft’s neutral stance[2] |
