More than 160 Blizzard Entertainment workers in Irvine have officially voted to unionize, marking a significant expansion of the burgeoning labor movement within the video game industry. These employees, responsible for creating cinematics, animation, trailers, and narrative content, join a growing number of gaming professionals seeking better working conditions.
A Growing Trend in Gaming
The unionization effort at Blizzard is part of a larger trend, with over 6,000 video game workers across the U.S. and Canada having organized in recent years. Key issues driving this movement include concerns over demanding "crunch-time" hours leading up to product releases, job insecurity, and workplace harassment. Workers are increasingly advocating for fair and transparent pay, and more stable employment.
Key Takeaways
- Over 160 Blizzard workers in Irvine have unionized.
- The newly formed union will join the Communications Workers of America Local 9510.
- Microsoft, which acquired Activision Blizzard in 2023, has pledged neutrality towards unionization efforts.
- This follows previous unionization votes at other Activision Blizzard studios, including Raven Software and "World of Warcraft" developers.
Reasons for Unionization
John Giarratana, a cinematic producer at the Irvine campus, cited frequent layoffs and a lack of remote work options as primary frustrations among employees. "These waves of layoffs are really hard," Giarratana stated. "It makes it hard to make games, it makes it hard to be creative, and it makes it hard to want to do this work." The instability impacts the creative process and employee morale.
Microsoft’s Neutral Stance
Notably, Microsoft Corp., the current owner of Blizzard Entertainment, has recognized the union. This recognition was facilitated by Microsoft’s pledge to remain neutral in workers’ unionization efforts, a stance that has been instrumental in allowing thousands of additional workers within Microsoft-owned studios to organize more easily. A Microsoft spokesperson reiterated the company’s support for employees’ right to choose their representation.
Industry-Wide Impact
This development is significant for the gaming industry, which has historically been largely non-unionized. The unionization of Blizzard workers follows earlier organizing successes, such as the formation of the first video game union at Vodeo Games in late 2021, and the unionization of quality assurance workers at Raven Software, an Activision Blizzard studio, in 2022. Last year also saw over 500 "World of Warcraft" developers at Blizzard Entertainment form their own union.
