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CWA president urges regulators scrutinise EA Saudi deal
AppWizard
October 30, 2025

CWA president urges regulators scrutinise EA Saudi deal

Claude Cummings Jr., president of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union, has requested a thorough investigation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) regarding the proposed acquisition of Electronic Arts (EA) by a consortium of investors primarily funded by Saudi Arabia. He expressed concerns about job security for thousands in the gaming industry and the potential impact on market dynamics, urging regulators to evaluate how the acquisition could affect EA's market power and wage-setting authority. The acquisition would transition EA to private ownership under investors including the Saudi Public Investment Fund. The CWA previously supported the acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft after negotiating a labor neutrality agreement.
Over 500 Steam Next Fest demos used generative AI, and I've never felt more disappointed
AppWizard
October 22, 2025

Over 500 Steam Next Fest demos used generative AI, and I’ve never felt more disappointed

Over 500 demos at the October 2025 Steam Next Fest disclosed the use of generative AI in their development processes, accounting for 17% of the offerings. Developers primarily used AI for marketing and Steam store page assets, but it also extended to art, audio, coding, writing, and in-game interactions. The demo Cloudheim was the most popular, indicating AI was used for "internal communication." Concerns have arisen regarding job security for professionals in the industry, as reliance on AI increases. Some games, like Arc Raiders, have vague disclosures about AI's role, leading to noticeable issues such as awkward dialogue. The lack of transparency about AI-generated assets is also troubling, with some games not disclosing AI usage until players notice discrepancies.
Saudi Arabia's acquisition of Electronic Arts faces pushback from game developers, petition calls on FTC to 'scrutinize this deal closely'
AppWizard
October 17, 2025

Saudi Arabia’s acquisition of Electronic Arts faces pushback from game developers, petition calls on FTC to ‘scrutinize this deal closely’

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, along with private equity firms, is acquiring Electronic Arts (EA) for a billion dollars, facing significant resistance from the United Videogame Workers-CWA union. The union has urged regulators to prioritize job protection, creative freedom, and accountability in decision-making. EA, with annual revenues of .5 billion and profits of billion, is not in distress, but concerns have been raised about potential layoffs, particularly at BioWare, a studio known for its progressive narrative approach. The union warned that job losses would be a choice made for investor profit rather than necessity. U.S. senators Richard Blumenthal and Elizabeth Warren have expressed concerns about national security risks related to the acquisition, but regulatory intervention seems unlikely due to a shift in the FTC's stance and the involvement of Jared Kushner in the deal. The union has initiated a petition to prompt regulatory examination of the acquisition.
silver Android smartphone
AppWizard
October 4, 2025

Civilization 7’s latest update brings improved map generation, a better UI, and a ‘full rework of Napoleon’, but it hasn’t moved the needle on its divided Steam rating

Firaxis released update 1.2.5 for Civilization 7, introducing enhancements to gameplay based on player feedback. Key changes include a complete overhaul of the map generation system with two new map types: "Continents and Islands" and "Pangaea and Islands." The update also adds two new city-state types: Diplomatic and Expansionist, and implements a strategic balance pass that replaces percentage stacking bonuses with numerical bonuses. Napoleon Bonaparte's character has been upgraded, providing additional rewards for provoking conflicts and advantages for imposing sanctions. Despite these updates, the game's reception is lukewarm, with a Steam rating of 43%, attributed to dissatisfaction with the Age Transition concept. Take Two CEO Strauss Zelnick remains optimistic about the game's performance, noting that it aligns with expectations despite recent layoffs at Firaxis.
Arkane STJV members demand Microsoft halt support for Israel
AppWizard
August 15, 2025

Arkane STJV members demand Microsoft halt support for Israel

Members of Arkane Studios, part of the French union STJV, have called on Microsoft to stop its support for Israel, aligning with the Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) movement and the No Azure for Apartheid campaign advocating for Palestinian rights. The BDS movement, established in 2005, aims to discourage corporate engagement with Israel, particularly following Microsoft's services to the Israeli military. Over 2,000 employees from Microsoft's gaming division signed a petition against the company's support for Israel. The STJV expressed that Microsoft should not be complicit in what they termed a genocide and emphasized the responsibility of tech workers to ensure their technologies do not facilitate oppression. They also raised concerns about the impact of Microsoft's actions on the viability of Xbox Games and their job security.
ZeniMax Workers United and Microsoft sign tentative labour agreement
AppWizard
June 2, 2025

ZeniMax Workers United and Microsoft sign tentative labour agreement

ZeniMax Workers United has negotiated a tentative labor agreement with Microsoft that includes a 13.5 percent wage increase effective July 1st, job security protections against arbitrary termination, limitations on AI usage in the workplace, guarantees for quality assurance workers to receive credit for their contributions, and new minimum salary standards as outlined by the Communications Workers of America (CWA). This agreement follows over two years of challenges and negotiations since the union's formation and comes after a vote to strike due to frustrations over contract delays.
Rebellion's Kingsley: "We're just very professional with controlling scope and costs"
AppWizard
March 10, 2025

Rebellion’s Kingsley: “We’re just very professional with controlling scope and costs”

Jason Kingsley OBE, CEO of UK developer Rebellion, stated that the company's success in avoiding layoffs is due to meticulous cost management practices. Rebellion focuses on keeping project scopes manageable and prefers developing smaller, high-quality games rather than large, unfocused ones. Approximately two-thirds of their games are sequels or established brands, while one-third consists of experimental projects, ensuring a reliable revenue stream and fostering innovation. Kingsley emphasized the importance of job security and the company's commitment to maintaining stability and responsible growth without frequent hiring and firing.
App drivers plan to ‘log off’ in pay and conditions campaign
AppWizard
February 6, 2025

App drivers plan to ‘log off’ in pay and conditions campaign

The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has announced a strike involving drivers from Uber, Bolt, and Addison Lee on February 14, from 4 PM to 10 PM, across major cities including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham, and Brighton. The strike aims to address low pay and precarious working conditions, advocating for improved pay structures, job security, and safety measures like rider ID verification and complaint tracking systems. Drivers reportedly work between 70 and 80 hours a week to make ends meet. Nader Awaad, chairman of the IWGB, emphasized the need for fair compensation and criticized the industry's profits at the expense of drivers. Addison Lee expressed confidence that the strike would not disrupt services, while Uber defended its practices, stating that drivers earn at least the national living wage and receive holiday pay and pension benefits.
ZeniMax QA staff strike over return-to-office policy
AppWizard
November 15, 2024

ZeniMax QA staff strike over return-to-office policy

Quality assurance personnel at ZeniMax Studios initiated a strike due to dissatisfaction with the company's remote work policies and stalled negotiations with Microsoft regarding job security and the replacement of QA staff with contractors. The Communication Workers of America (CWA) filed an unfair labor practice against ZeniMax, highlighting the urgency of the situation. Senior QA tester Dylan Burton expressed concerns about job security and the potential risks of outsourcing, while another tester, Juniper Dowell, hoped the strike would encourage Microsoft to address their demands.
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