Unions - Kotaku

Inside The Failed Fight To Unionize One Of Gaming’s Most Idealized Studios

Double Fine employees petitioned for a union in May. It created a rift in the studio that still hasn't healed

By Rebekah Valentine Published October 9, 2026

Candy Crush Developers Win Contract With Management After Calling For A Multi-Union Strike

'Without the fantastic engagement of our members at King, it would have been much more difficult to reach this agreement'

By Rebekah Valentine Published September 24, 2026

CultureNews

1,900 Blizzard Developers Just Won A Union Contract Full Of Protections For AI, Layoffs, And More

Blizzard's many disparate unions are also being condensed into three groups for ease of future bargaining

By Rebekah Valentine Published September 9, 2026

Report

In Protest Of Mass Layoffs, Bethesda Devs Greet Xbox Leadership With A Giant Inflatable Rat

'We heard that Microsoft leadership was coming to our office this week, and decided to make our presence visible'

By Ash Parrish Published August 11, 2026

CultureNews

Candy Crush Bosses Reject Developers’ Union Demands, Saying The ‘Current Operating Model Is The Right Fit’

Union group says decision is 'naturally disappointing' to employees who supported the effort

By Rebekah Valentine Published August 5, 2026

CultureNews

[UPDATE] Game Devs Put Together An Itch.io Bundle Of Over 100 Games With Proceeds Going To Help Laid-Off Colleagues

The Game Industry Hardship Fund bundle contains over 100 games and will be on sale for the next two weeks

By Ash Parrish Published July 31, 2026

Games

Bethesda Union Workers Will Hold Rallies Next Week Protesting Mass Layoffs

'The company wants us to accept this as a done deal and quietly disappear. We won't let that happen'

By Rebekah Valentine Published July 9, 2026

Games

Xbox Unions In The Dark Despite Negotiating Layoff Protections For Months: ‘We Understand That Businesses Have To Business, But The Uncertainty Is Maddening’

'We just want to know that they're like making a real effort to keep our jobs and to acknowledge that we are people with hopes and dreams and kids and mortgages'

By Rebekah Valentine Published June 30, 2026

CultureNews

Unionized Workers At Xbox Respond To Layoff Reports, Say They ‘Will Not Be Treated As Disposable’

'The money is there, leadership is simply choosing where it goes and who pays'

By Rebekah Valentine Published June 29, 2026

Games

Wizards Of The Coast Deadnamed Trans Employees In Front Of Their Colleagues During Union Election, Apologized, Then Did It Again

'The actions here are...at odds with the kindness and support I experience daily'

By Rebekah Valentine Published June 5, 2026

CultureNews

Staff At The Publisher Behind Some Beloved Star Wars And Cyberpunk Comics Are Unionizing

Workers are hoping to address concerns around layoffs, wages, AI, and return-to-office policies

By Rebekah Valentine Published May 27, 2026

ReviewsYear in Review

The 10 Best Gaming Surprises Of 2025

FromSoftware delivered a banger, the Fortnite Simpsons season was better than we expected, a KOTOR spiritual successor was announced and more good game news from 2025

By Zack Zwiezen Published December 25, 2025