Blizzard groups engaged on Hearthstone and Warcraf...

Blizzard builders engaged on Hearthstone and Warcraft Rumble have formed a new union, the most recent in a collection of labor wins on the Microsoft-owned studio. The over 100-person unit is represented by the Communication Employees of America (CWA), and counts “software program engineers, designers, artists, high quality assurance testers and producers” amongst its members.

Inspiration to kind the brand new union got here from the profitable organizing efforts of Blizzard’s World of Warcraft workers final yr. The employees behind the traditional MMO fashioned the Warcraft Gamemakers Guild final yr, and had been adopted by comparable unions representing builders engaged on Diablo and Overwatch earlier in 2025. In line with the CWA, over 1,900 staff at Blizzard are actually represented by the group.

The brand new union is arriving at a important time. Blizzard’s father or mother firm Microsoft made main cuts across its gaming division this summer time, together with layoffs that reportedly led to Blizzard winding down development on Warcraft Rumble. Union membership has flourished throughout Microsoft’s studios due to neutrality agreements the corporate signed with CWA respecting its staff’ proper to arrange at Activision Blizzard in 2022 and ZeniMax in 2024, however the atmosphere is on the point of attainable change.

Aftermath reports that the neutrality settlement masking Activision Blizzard staff expires in October 2025, which may make forming future unions tougher. Microsoft signed its first neutrality settlement to reassure regulators about its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, however now that the deal is completed and dusted, the corporate has much less of a purpose to play good.