Union formed by over 450 Diablo developers to tackle working conditions within the industry
Video Game Workers Unionize in Response to Layoffs and Job Instability
In the video game industry, a sense of dread among workers due to layoffs is all too common. This sentiment has led to a growing movement towards unionization, with thousands of video game workers joining forces to seek better working conditions.
The latest example of this movement can be seen at Blizzard Entertainment, where over 450 developers from the Diablo team have formed a union. This union is part of a larger trend in the industry, with numerous smaller studios also closing due to industry layoffs.
The unionization at Blizzard's Diablo team is a response to the ongoing issue of job losses and layoffs. The decision to unionize follows multiple rounds of mass layoffs at Blizzard, with the last one taking place in July. This round of layoffs resulted in the cancellation of several highly anticipated games, including Perfect Dark and Rare's Everwild.
Ryan Littleton, another Diablo designer, shared a personal story about the fear of job loss following mass layoffs, including being denied access to the cafeteria. Skye Hoefling, Team 3 Senior Software Engineer II on Diablo, expressed gratitude for working on the game but concern about job instability. Kelly Yeo, a Team 3 Game Producer on Diablo and organizing committee member, expressed concern about the impact of layoffs on coworkers.
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) issued a press release announcing the formation of the union. The union formed by Diablo developers aims to provide members with more job security and better working conditions.
The unionization movement in the video game industry is not limited to Blizzard. Over 3,000 other Microsoft staff members are seeking better working conditions through unionization. This includes unionized developers at numerous other companies, with thousands joining the newly formed United Videogame Workers union.
The companies that have eliminated around 39,000 jobs in recent years through extensive layoffs include Siemens, Deutsche Bank, and Lufthansa. Despite record sales numbers, companies like Microsoft, Electronic Arts, Sony, and Ubisoft have announced extensive layoffs.
As the video game industry continues to grow, it is clear that the issue of job losses and layoffs is a pressing concern for many workers. The unionization movement is a response to this issue, and it will be interesting to see how it evolves in the coming years.
