Nearly 200 developers from the popular game Overwatch at Activision Blizzard have joined forces to establish a new union known as The Overwatch Gamemakers Guild under the umbrella of the Communications Workers of America (CWA). This union is described as a comprehensive group that encompasses game developers from diverse disciplines such as design, production, engineering, art, sound, and quality assurance.

The announcement came after a neutral arbitrator confirmed that a substantial majority of the team members had either signed a union authorization card or expressed support for unionization online. The CWA has stated that Microsoft has acknowledged this new union.

“After a long history of layoffs, demanding hours, and less-than-ideal working conditions within the global videogame industry, my colleagues and I are excited to be part of the broader initiative to organize our sector for improvements that are well overdue,” said Foster Elmendorf, a senior test analyst II and an organizing committee member.

*Translation: ‘After a long history of layoffs, crunch, and subpar working conditions in the global videogame industry, my coworkers and I are thrilled to be joining the broader union effort to organize our industry for the better, which has been long overdue,’ said Foster Elmendorf, a Senior Test Analyst II.

The CWA further indicated that the formation of this union was recognized by Microsoft, which has been credited in the past for not opposing unionization efforts. This union’s establishment is part of a larger trend within the gaming industry toward collective organization, driven by the significant number of layoffs and challenging work conditions that have affected thousands of industry professionals.

This movement reflects a growing shift among gaming professionals to advocate for their rights and work conditions collectively.