TLDR
- Over 200 developers at Bethesda Game Studios have formed a union with the Communications Workers of America (CWA).
- 241 workers, including artists, engineers, programmers, and designers, have joined the union.
- This is the first “wall-to-wall” union at a Microsoft video game studio, meaning all eligible job titles are represented.
- Microsoft has recognized the union.
- The unionization follows similar efforts at other Microsoft-owned studios like ZeniMax and Activision.
Nore than 200 developers at Bethesda Game Studios, the renowned creator of franchises like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, have successfully unionized.
The workers have joined the Communications Workers of America (CWA), marking a milestone as the first “wall-to-wall” union at a Microsoft-owned video game studio.
The union formation involved 241 workers across various job roles, including artists, engineers, programmers, and designers. These employees either signed union authorization cards or indicated their desire for union representation through an online portal.
The “wall-to-wall” nature of this union means that the CWA will represent workers across all eligible job titles, rather than just one specific group of workers.
We, a majority of developers at Bethesda Game Studios Dallas, Rockville, and Austin, are ecstatic to announce the formation of our union with @CWAUnion. Together as #OneBGSUSA, we advocate for the betterment of every developer at BGS, setting the new standard for our industry.
— OneBGS_USA (@OneBGS_USA) July 19, 2024
Microsoft, which owns Bethesda Game Studios, has officially recognized the union. This recognition aligns with the company’s previous stance on unionization efforts within its gaming division.
Microsoft had already recognized unions formed by quality assurance (QA) workers at Activision and ZeniMax Studios, both of which are also owned by the tech giant.
The newly formed union at Bethesda spans multiple locations, with workers from the studio’s Maryland office joining CWA Local 2108 and those from the Texas office becoming members of CWA Local 6215.
This move follows the recent unionization of Bethesda Games Studios Montreal in late June and the earlier unionization of about 300 QA workers at ZeniMax, Bethesda’s parent company.
Mandi Parker, a Senior System Designer at Bethesda, expressed enthusiasm about the union formation:
“We are so excited to announce our union at Bethesda Game Studio and join the movement sweeping across the video game industry. It is clear that every worker can benefit from bringing democracy into the workplace and securing a protected voice on the job.”
The unionization at Bethesda is part of a growing trend in the video game industry, as workers seek greater protection and bargaining power.
This movement has gained momentum in recent years, with unions forming at companies like Sega of America and Activision Blizzard. The trend is seen as a response to industry-wide issues such as mass layoffs, crunch culture, and workplace conditions.
With the formation of this union, Bethesda Game Studios workers will now move forward to negotiate a contract with Microsoft. The union aims to advocate for the betterment of every developer at Bethesda Game Studios, setting new standards for the industry as a whole.
The impact of this unionization extends beyond Bethesda and Microsoft. It represents a significant step in the ongoing efforts to improve working conditions in the video game industry.
As one of the most high-profile studios to unionize, Bethesda’s move could inspire similar actions at other major game development companies
