With the demand in labor for many of these AAA projects that release in recent time, more and more developers are looking for arrangements that ensure well in due benefits to account for the work put in. The most moving effort on this behalf is over at Bethesda Game Studios. It was revealed recently to be fully embracing unionizing as it marks the first for Xbox Game Studios.
Additionally, Microsoft has shown a track record to back creators and even encourages its teams towards this sentiment. Previously, the firm did stand behind the growing outcry for teams like Raven Software to unionize. Furthermore, Zenimax Studios also was met with the same response as unionizing was received with a supermajority vote in favor of the effort.
In a new report from Game Developer, Blizzard Entertainment has also welcomed ‘wall-to-wall’ unionization to the World of Warcraft developer. This new arrangement accounts for over 500 employees that represent the game studio.
By forming a cross-disciplinary union, we seek to enshrine that value and ensure that the developers of World of Warcraft, QA included, will always have a voice in our own workplace. We want to both improve our working conditions and protect the things we love about Blizzard, all so we can feel secure in pouring our talents and passion into making World of Warcraft.
Kevin Vigue, Blizzard Entertainment Senior Software Engineer
“We organized not just for ourselves, but also our fellow employees who make the game with us. By ensuring we’re all treated fairly in our own workplace, we can focus ourselves on our shared passion: making great video games,” Vigue elaborated in the statement to the outlet. He also elaborated that the push from Blizzard Entertainment was sourced from the efforts that already made waves at other Xbox teams as well was Sega too.
“Our union effort predates the recent layoffs, but witnessing them firsthand only served to solidify how important this effort is for the entire gaming industry. With our union contract, we can have a voice to minimize the impact of future layoffs and ensure we retain talent and knowledge whenever possible.”
Are you surprised with the direction Blizzard Entertainment is heading?
Source: Game Developer
