Quality assurance employees at Blizzard have approved a union contract aimed at providing "lasting protections in the workplace"

Workers in quality assurance roles at Blizzard's branches in Albany, New York, and Austin, Texas, have successfully approved a union agreement with Microsoft, their parent corporation.

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) reported that this agreement provides enduring workplace protections. It represents the third such contract within the company, following agreements for ZeniMax employees in June and Raven Software workers in August.

Negotiations for this three-year contract began in May 2023, and it benefits over 60 employees in various quality assurance positions. The contract includes assured salary increases for its full term, additional regulations concerning AI use, credit recognition safeguards on completed games, fair disability arrangements, immigrant protections, and limitations on compulsory overtime.

"As layoffs are heavily impacting our sector, this achievement is crucial for bolstering the prospects of video game professionals," commented Brock Davis, a quality analyst at Blizzard Albany and member of CWA Local 1118. "Our contract offers us livable wages, increased job security, and protections around AI implementation."

Matt Gant, a senior quality analyst at Blizzard Austin and CWA Local 6215 member, remarked, "After nearly two decades in gaming, it's fulfilling to collaborate on a fair contract that ensures a viable career. The agreement enhances our pay, benefits, and safeguards against layoffs while reinforcing quality assurance as a valued career path."

Meanwhile, French gaming unions, including STJV, CFE-CGC, CGT, Printemps Ecologique, and Solidaries Informatique, recently urged a widespread international strike. This move came after Ubisoft's announcement of significant restructuring, including the cancellation of six titles such as the Prince of Persia remake, postponement of seven other games, a mandate for full-time office presence, and a final wave of layoffs and studio closures aiming for €200 million in savings.

Interest in unionization within the gaming industry has been rising, according to the GDC Festival of Gaming's 2026 State Of The Game Industry survey. A substantial 82% of American participants favored union efforts for game workers, with just 5% dissenting and 13% undecided. Support was most pronounced among those earning under $200,000 annually (87%), individuals laid off in the recent two years (88%), and those under 45 years old (86%). Notably, no respondents aged 18 to 24 opposed unionization.