World of Warcraft Workers Unite: A New Era of Unionization in Gaming

Over 500 World of Warcraft workers have unionized, aligning with Communications Workers of America. This marks the first comprehensive union at Activision Blizzard and the largest at a Microsoft-owned studio, influenced by the company's labor neutrality agreement. This step signals significant progress in the organized labor movement among video game employees.

More than 500 workers behind the popular video game franchise "World of Warcraft" are unionizing.

The game's development team employees—designers, engineers, artists, quality assurance testers, and more—are joining the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the union announced Wednesday. Microsoft subsidiary Blizzard Entertainment, World of Warcraft's publisher, has recognized the union.

The World of Warcraft Game Makers Guild - CWA Union is the first wall-to-wall union seen at Activision Blizzard and the largest of its kind at a Microsoft-owned studio to date, according to CWA. This organization builds on recent labor movements among Microsoft video game workers since the company's $69 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard last year.

Workers were able to organize thanks to a "labor neutrality" agreement activated by the acquisition. Unusually for the industry, this agreement addressed merger concerns from 2022, with Microsoft pledging neutrality if Activision Blizzard workers in the U.S. and Canada sought to unionize. With the latest World of Warcraft news and other organizing efforts, the CWA says over 1,750 Microsoft video game workers now have union representation.

"What we've accomplished at World of Warcraft is just the beginning,'' said Eric Lanham, a World of Warcraft test analyst and guild member. Lanham emphasized the next step is a strong contract for better employee standards and overall gaming experience. Tom Smith, senior organizing director at CWA, added that Wednesday's announcement is a key milestone in industrywide efforts to unionize game workers. Furthermore, 60 quality assurance workers at Blizzard Entertainment's Austin, Texas, location also joined the union and were recognized by Microsoft on Wednesday, affirming their unions via a neutral arbitrator.

In a statement to The Associated Press Thursday, a spokesperson for Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft said the company supports employees' right to workplace representation and will negotiate in good faith towards a collective bargaining agreement.

The unionization of World of Warcraft workers marks a significant milestone stemming from a 2021 employee walkout at Activision Blizzard's headquarters. This protest responded to a sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuit brought by California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing, settled after Microsoft's acquisition last year.

(With inputs from agencies.)