Blizzard’s Diablo Developers Form a Major Union Amid Industry Changes
More than 450 game developers from Blizzard’s Diablo team have unionized, marking a significant move within Microsoft’s gaming workforce. The newly formed union encompasses game developers, artists, designers, engineers, and support staff across the Diablo franchise, following a unanimous vote in favor of representation by the Communications Workers of America (CWA), reports 24brussels.
The union’s primary goals include enhancing compensation, ensuring job security, and improving workplace conditions under Microsoft’s management. This new development adds to the growing labor movement within the tech industry, which has already seen over 3,500 Microsoft employees join CWA unions, including more than 500 World of Warcraft developers who established Blizzard’s inaugural comprehensive union last year. This wave of unionization comes in response to a series of layoffs, with Microsoft cutting as many as 9,100 positions early in the year and an additional 1,900 at Activision Blizzard and Xbox in 2024.
“With every subsequent round of mass layoffs, I’ve witnessed the dread in my coworkers grow stronger because it feels like no amount of hard work is enough to protect us,” said Kelly Yeo, a member of the Diablo organizing committee. “This is just the first step for us joining a movement spreading across an industry that is tired of living in fear.”
The recent unionization efforts reflect a broader trend within the gaming industry, driven by ongoing concerns over job security and workplace environment. The CWA and its new union partners are advocating for greater protections and assurances for employees across all levels of game development, reinforcing the need for collective bargaining in a rapidly evolving sector.
