Unionization

Unionizing the Game Industry

In an effort to combat the issues of unpaid overtime, unfair wages, job insecurity, discrimination, and sexual harassment, a grassroots advocacy group started called Game Workers Unite. GWU’s goal is to encourage game industry workers around the world to unionize.

Unionization allows Game Industry workers to take collective action in negotiating work hours, pay scales, and benefits with their employers. Union representatives can also help workers to take legal action for underpayment, harassment, and wrongful termination.

Europe

In France, the STJV was formed as an independent union for workers in the video games industry. In the UK, Game Workers Unite UK was formed as a branch of the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB). Their purpose is to fight for better working conditions and benefits, provide legal assistance, organize strike against employers, improve diversity and inclusion, and maintain job security.

The benefits of a union greatly outweigh the costs, with the aim of bringing about a healthier environment for game developers.

USA

In 2022, Raven Software's QA department formed the first union of videogame workers in the USA, the Game Workers Alliance. They secured a collective bargaining agreement with Microsoft in August 2025.

Since then, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) has been supporting the formation of various videogame unions and facilitating agreements.

• In 2023, ZeniMax Workers United was formed a union with CWA. They reach a tentative agreement with Microsoft in June 2025.
• In July 2023, Sega workers formed a union. They reached a collective bargaining agreement in March 2024.
• In 2024, The World of Warcraft Gamemakers Guild-CWA formed.
• In August 2025, Diablo workers at Blizzard voted to join local CWA chapters.
• In October 2025, Hearthstone and Warcraft Rumble workers at Blizzard voted to join local CWA chapters.
• In March of 2025, the United Videogame Workers-CWA opened up direct join union membership, offering an easy way for game industry workers across USA and Canada to receive resources and representation.

Sources:

Game Workers Unite
Game Workers branch of the IWGB
Le Syndicat des Travailleurs et Travailleuses du Jeu Vidéo
Game Workers Alliance
United Videogame Workers-CWA
World of Warcraft Gamemakers Guild-CWA
ZeniMax Workers United-CWA
CWA at Sega
Diablo Game Workers at CWA
Hearthstone and Warcraft Rumble at CWA