More than 450 members of Blizzard’s Diablo team have officially formed a union, contributing to a growing trend among Microsoft employees. This new union encompasses various roles within the Diablo franchise, including game developers, artists, designers, engineers, and support staff. According to a press release from the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the union was established after a strong vote in favor of representation.
The Diablo team aims to address concerns related to compensation, job security, and workplace conditions under Microsoft’s ownership. As part of this movement, over 3,500 Microsoft employees are now affiliated with CWA unions. This includes more than 500 developers from World of Warcraft, who were part of Blizzard’s first comprehensive union formed last year. Earlier this year, Microsoft implemented significant layoffs, affecting as many as 9,100 employees, which included 1,900 individuals from Activision Blizzard and Xbox in 2024.
As a member of the organizing committee for the Diablo union, Kelly Yeo expressed concerns regarding the impact of recent layoffs on employee morale. She noted that the anxiety surrounding job security has intensified among her coworkers, emphasizing a need for collective action to address these issues. Yeo described the formation of the union as a foundational step in a broader movement within the gaming industry, as many workers seek to overcome the uncertainties associated with their employment. This unionization effort reflects ongoing trends among tech companies where employees are organizing for better working conditions and protections.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/767944/diablo-developers-form-union-blizzard-entertainment