Over 400 More Blizzard Entertainment Workers Vote to Unionize

By Farouk Kannout  |  October 16, 2025 | 1:58pm
Video Games News Activision Blizzard
Over 400 More Blizzard Entertainment Workers Vote to Unionize

Another branch of Activision Blizzard has voted to unionize under the Communication Workers of America (CWA). On Oct. 15, the union announced that over 400 employees of the company’s Platform and Technology department had successfully voted to unionize. The staff who are now a part of this union includes designers, engineers, QA testers, workers on Battle.net, localization teams, and customer support for Blizzard products. 

Organizing committee members Daniel Weltz, Alex Kohn, and Timothy Biley stated in an announcement that the mass departure of their colleagues because of layoffs or low pay was one of the prime motivators for the decision to unionize. “Our culture is our people and we can’t afford to lose that,” said Weltz. Microsoft has reportedly recognized the union. 

Earlier this year, developers working in Blizzard’s story and franchise development department also voted to unionize, joining 3,000 workers at various Microsoft-owned studios who have organized with Communication Workers of America. In August of 2024, unionized workers at Raven Software filed a complaint against Activision and Microsoft for allegedly refusing to bargain. On Aug. 4, 2025 however the Raven Software workers secured a contract with Microsoft. 

The employees of Blizzard’s Platform and Technology department now join this growing group. “Having more unions increase workplace standards across the board,” the organizing committee group voiced over an email interview with GameDeveloper, “workplaces will now have to offer certain things in order to remain competitive to workers.”

The group also stated that “the industry itself also tends to view the people who make video games as disposable… we’re hopeful that with more unions in the industry, we can turn that perception around.” 

It’s undeniable that the games industry has been a volatile and desolate place the past few years, with mass layoffs and studio closures happening constantly. Continued wins such as this are vital in order to keep the people who are making games afloat, and ensuring they get the recognition and respect they deserve.

 
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