“Forming a union, negotiating a contract, and speaking with one unified voice has empowered us to reclaim the autonomy we deserve. This first contract is a call to action for every game developer to stand up for fair treatment. We are the ones who build these games, and we’re setting the new standard for how they should be made.”
ZeniMax QA workers formed their union in January 2023, following similar actions at Raven Software and Blizzard Albany, after Microsoft publicly committed to labor neutrality. However, reaching an agreement has been difficult. In November of the previous year, workers staged a one-day strike, protesting stalled negotiations over remote work rights and claims that Microsoft was outsourcing QA work without union consultation. Then, in April, workers voted decisively in favor of strike authorization, citing ongoing concerns about remote work policies and inadequate pay.
The proposed contract remains subject to approval by union members in a vote expected to conclude by June 20.
