Bethesda Game Studios is now Microsoft’s first fully unionized game studio

Bethesda Game Studios has revealed a major breakthrough for its workers, announcing that it has become the first “wall-to-wall” union under the Microsoft Game Studios umbrella with 241 employees including developers, artists, engineers and more joining the Communication Workers of America (CWA) Union.

This news is a beautiful story of solidarity in the face of an increasingly hostile industry, particularly within Microsoft, which has been responsible for some of the largest and most high-profile layoffs in recent months and years. Jason SchreierMicrosoft has recognized the union, and hopefully BSG will be the first of many studios to get better protections for its developers.

The union’s full statement on social media reads:

“We, a majority of developers at Bethesda Game Studios Dallas, Rockville, and Austin, are excited to announce the formation of our union with CWA Union. Together, as OneBGS USA, we are advocating for the betterment of every BGS developer, setting the new standard for our industry.

“As a democratic organization, we seek to realize the collective wishes of our studio workers: to provide a safe, sustainable and equitable work environment for all. Having a proper seat at the table allows us to turn these wishes into reality.

“In solidarity with our colleagues at ZeniMax Workers, OneBGS MTL, and the entire CWA union, we are demanding increased job security, pay transparency, and increased flexibility to continue creating the games we love.

“As we work toward signing our first deal with Microsoft, we hope you will join us in expressing your support as we serve as an example for all in the next era of game development.”

Header Image: Bethesda

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