The Overwatch development team at Activision Blizzard, consisting of nearly 200 developers, has officially formed a union under the Communications Workers of America (CWA). This union, known as the Overwatch Gamemakers Guild, follows in the footsteps of the World of Warcraft development team, which established its own union last July.
The CWA announced that a significant majority of workers within the Overwatch unit have either signed union authorization cards or expressed their desire for union representation. This union includes game developers from various departments such as production, engineering, design, art, sound, and quality assurance. Their primary goals include advocating for job security, salary improvements, and protection against layoffs.
Foster Elmendorf, a member of the organizing committee, expressed enthusiasm about joining the broader union movement to address longstanding issues such as layoffs, crunch, and inadequate working conditions in the video game industry. The CWA now represents over 2,600 workers at Microsoft-owned gaming studios, with a recent union formed by 600 quality assurance workers at Activision in March 2024.
These unionization efforts have been facilitated by a labor neutrality agreement signed between the CWA and Microsoft in 2022, making it easier for employees at subsidiaries like Activision Blizzard to organize and advocate for their rights.
