labor rights Archives

AppWizard

September 1, 2025

Over 450 Blizzard staff vote to unionise

Over 450 employees dedicated to the Diablo franchise at Blizzard have voted to unionize, forming a bargaining unit that includes developers, artists, engineers, and support staff. The union was announced by the Communications Workers of America (CWA).

AppWizard

May 20, 2025

SAG-AFTRA union files complaint against Epic over Darth Vader Fortnite AI voice work

SAG-AFTRA has filed a formal complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Epic Games for using artificial intelligence to voice Darth Vader in Fortnite without prior notice or negotiation. The union emphasizes the need to protect performers' rights and accused Epic Games of failing to engage in good faith negotiations regarding changes to employment terms, specifically the replacement of human actors with AI-generated voices.

AppWizard

March 20, 2025

United Videogame Workers union launches with CWA backing

United Videogame Workers has been launched as a new initiative for professionals in the gaming industry, backed by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the American Federation of Musicians (AFM). The union aims to empower marginalized workers, including laid-off employees, contractors, and freelancers. Its mission is to reclaim the contributions of the workforce from higher-ups. Tom Smith, CWA’s senior director of organizing, emphasized that the union's creation is a collective effort by video game workers. CWA president Claude Cummings Jr. noted the significance of the union in helping video game workers build power amid troubling trends of consolidation in the industry, which have led to layoffs and the sidelining of creative workers.

AppWizard

November 25, 2024

2K mocap studio votes for unionisation

Staff at 2K Games' motion-capture studio in California voted to unionize, with 15 employees in favor and six opposed, during an election monitored by the National Labor Relations Board on November 22nd. The unionization effort was supported by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). Matthew Peterson, a mocap animator, expressed hope that this milestone would inspire other workers in the industry to organize. IATSE International President Matthew Loeb emphasized the broader implications of this victory for labor relations in the video game industry. The unionization campaign began in October.

AppWizard

September 6, 2024

80 games teams join SAG-AFTRA union

80 developers have officially joined SAG-AFTRA, including Studio Wildcard and Little Bat Games, amid a strike by SAG-AFTRA members concerned about AI's impact on their work. SAG-AFTRA aims to establish protections against AI in creative processes. Sarah Elmaleh, chair of the union's negotiating committee, emphasized the importance of these agreements for fair labor practices. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA’s national executive director, praised the companies for adopting tiered-budget and interim agreements, highlighting their role in preserving creativity in gaming.