working conditions Archives

AppWizard

June 10, 2026

Kakao’s unionized members stage first-ever strike

Unionized members of Kakao Corp. held the company's first-ever strike on June 10, 2026, in front of the Kakao Pangyo Agit headquarters in Seongnam. The striking employees are demanding higher bonuses and a more equitable profit-sharing model, reflecting a broader trend among tech workers seeking compensation aligned with company success. The rally emphasized a shift in corporate culture at Kakao, with employees becoming more vocal about their rights and expectations. The outcome of the strike could have significant implications for labor relations in the tech industry.

AppWizard

May 28, 2026

6 months before the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6, Rockstar employees in the UK have formed a union

Rockstar Games terminated 31 employees in October 2025, with the dismissed workers claiming their firings were due to their efforts to unionize, a claim Rockstar denies, stating the terminations were due to the disclosure of unannounced game features. A new union, affiliated with the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB), has formed among Rockstar employees to advocate for the rights of the terminated workers and has initiated legal action against the company. The union is focusing on issues such as pay transparency, flexible working conditions, and an end to "crunch" culture. The IWGB is also raising funds for its legal case and aims to secure justice for the fired workers. Meanwhile, Take-Two Interactive has projected revenues exceeding billion for the 2027 fiscal year, largely due to the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6.

Winsage

April 29, 2026

Windows 11 April Patches Trigger Remote Desktop Bug

Microsoft has acknowledged a significant issue with the April updates to Windows 11, particularly affecting the Remote Desktop feature in mixed-scaling multi-monitor environments. Security warning dialogs may become unreadable, complicating the trust prompt process before initiating a connection. Temporary workarounds have been provided while a permanent solution is being developed. The issue arises from a new warning window introduced in April, which is difficult to read or interact with when different display scaling settings are used. Affected Windows 11 packages include KB5083769 and KB5082052. Users are advised to align scaling values across monitors or use keyboard navigation if the mouse fails to interact with the buttons. Microsoft added this bug to its known issues documentation on April 23 and updated it on April 27, indicating ongoing investigation and a cumulative update is anticipated to restore prompt clarity. The April release cycle also faced a separate regression related to BitLocker recovery, adding operational strain on administrators.

AppWizard

January 2, 2026

The most important PC gaming news stories in 2026

In 2026, the gaming industry is experiencing a push for unionization among developers, highlighted by a legal dispute involving Rockstar Games and former developers of GTA 6. The proposed billion-dollar acquisition of Electronic Arts (EA) could reshape North American gaming, potentially leading to significant cuts and debt for EA. A healthier dialogue about the portrayal of sex in gaming is emerging amid a crackdown on adult-themed games. Microsoft faces job cuts and project cancellations while announcing record profits, raising ethical concerns about its partnerships and creative stagnation. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine presents challenges for developers, influencing future game narratives. Additionally, the generative AI boom is disrupting RAM availability and pricing, potentially increasing costs for gaming hardware.

AppWizard

August 5, 2025

Raven union secures Microsoft contract

Unionised employees at Raven Software have secured their first contract with Microsoft after nearly three years of negotiations involving 19 quality assurance staff members. The contract includes a ten percent compensation increase over the next two years, allows for permanent work-from-home arrangements, and reduces mandatory overtime while requiring a minimum of seven days' notice for any required overtime work. The unionisation process began in 2022, with Activision Blizzard recognizing the bargaining unit shortly after. However, in August 2024, the union accused Microsoft and Activision Blizzard of negotiating in "bad faith."

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.

AppWizard

May 12, 2025

Almost 200 Overwatch staff unionise

Nearly 200 developers from the Overwatch series have formed a union called The Overwatch Gamemakers Guild-CWA, announced by the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The union includes members from various departments such as design, production, engineering, art, sound, and quality assurance. The unionization effort was motivated by layoffs in the gaming industry and aims to improve workplace conditions. Members believe collective action will help address long-standing issues like layoffs, excessive crunch periods, and inadequate working conditions in the gaming sector.

AppWizard

May 6, 2025

GTA 6’s preposterously-gorgeous second trailer has me thinking ‘no-one does it like Rockstar’ isn’t just a compliment, but an omen

The trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 has been released, showcasing impressive graphics and attention to detail. The game is set for release in 2026 and is expected to be one of the most successful video games in history. Rockstar Games is in a strong position, with GTA Online generating significant revenue, allowing for a lengthy development period. Despite challenges in the gaming industry, including layoffs and the struggles of several studios, major projects like GTA 6 and others from prominent developers are underway. The development of Red Dead Redemption 2 faced issues related to crunch periods, but Rockstar has committed to improving working conditions.

AppWizard

April 10, 2025

UK acting union Equity calls for better working conditions for performers in games

Equity, the UK's union for actors, is advocating for better working conditions and compensation for performers in the video game sector, highlighting stagnant pay over the past decade despite the industry's growth and substantial tax breaks for major companies. John Barclay, Equity's assistant general secretary, emphasized the need for industry leaders to address poor practices and establish union-negotiated agreements to improve pay and conditions. The union also raised concerns about the lack of protections against the misuse of artificial intelligence and non-disclosure agreements, as well as the need for safer working environments to prevent injuries and ensure respectful handling of intimate scenes.