Blizzard's Diablo Developers Form Historic Union with Over 450 Members

• Introduction
• Formation of the Union
• Importance of the Union
• What’s Next for Diablo Developers?

Introduction

In a monumental move for the gaming industry, hundreds of developers from the Diablo franchise at Blizzard Entertainment have voted to unionize, forming one of the most significant worker unions within the company. This newly established union boasts over 450 members and is affiliated with the Communication Workers of America (CWA), reflecting a growing trend of unionization within the gaming sector.

Formation of the Union

The growth of unions within Blizzard has paved the way for this decisive step. In 2022, the quality assurance team from Raven Software led the charge by establishing the Game Workers Alliance—the company's first union. Following this, a wave of union formations took place across various teams including those from the Warcraft and Overwatch franchises.

As of August 28, 2023, the entire development team of Diablo has united under a singular organization. This wall-to-wall union is designed to safeguard employees, particularly as Microsoft has recently been involved in numerous layoffs affecting thousands of workers. The overwhelming majority of Diablo developers supported the formation of this union, emphasizing their commitment to better wages and improved working conditions.

Importance of the Union

This initiative is crucial, particularly in light of the recent series of layoffs at Microsoft, which saw about 15,000 employees leave the company this year. This collective bargaining power is intended to provide the Diablo developers with a stronger voice in negotiations concerning their employment and working conditions.

Additionally, the pressures from the growing demands for generative AI tools have increased tensions within the gaming industry. Unionization offers developers a protective measure, allowing them to push back against potential adverse policy changes within their workplace.

What’s Next for Diablo Developers?

In August, Blizzard marked a significant month for unionization efforts, as the story and franchise development team also joined the ranks. These landmark changes signal a move toward increased labor rights within the gaming industry. The new union brings animators, narrative writers, and cinematic specialists under the umbrella of the CWA, reinforcing historical precedents for unionization.

This is not just a victory for the developers but also for gamers who care about the creation process behind the games they love. As the union strengthens, they can advocate for better working conditions, which can translate into higher quality games for players.

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As Blizzard continues to navigate the complexities of unionization, fans and players alike are hopeful for a more positive working environment that will result in better games that they can enjoy for years to come.