Blizzard Workers Continue Unionizing as hearthstone and Warcraft Rumble Teams Join the Movement
Irvine, CA – May 16, 2024 – Developers from Blizzard Entertainment’s Hearthstone and Warcraft Rumble teams have voted to unionize, adding over 1900 workers to the growing labor movement within the gaming giant. This follows accomplished unionization votes across nearly all eligible departments at Blizzard earlier this year, bringing the total number of unionized Blizzard employees to over 2,200. The workers will be represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA).
The move comes amidst a period of significant upheaval at Microsoft, which acquired Activision Blizzard in October 2023. as the acquisition, Microsoft has implemented thousands of layoffs across its gaming divisions and increased prices for its Game Pass subscription service. Despite reporting “record performance” financially in 2024 with $245 billion in revenue, the company has continued to cut staff, prompting criticism from the CWA, which stated earlier this year that the layoffs are occurring while the company is “prospering.”
The unionization effort at Blizzard aims to address concerns regarding job security, fair wages, and working conditions. Workers cite a desire to be “heard and respected” and to have a voice in decisions that affect their livelihoods. this wave of organizing reflects a broader trend within the games industry, where developers are increasingly seeking collective bargaining power in response to industry-wide layoffs and consolidation.
The initial unionization vote in January covered approximately 28% of Blizzard’s workforce, encompassing departments like QA, art, design, and production. The addition of the Hearthstone and warcraft Rumble teams substantially expands the union’s reach within the company. The CWA has characterized the ongoing organizing efforts as a response to ”profound corporate consolidation and disruption” within the gaming industry.
