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Yesterday, the Communications Workers of America announced that more than 450 developers working on the Diablo franchise at Blizzard have formed a union. This group now joins over 3,000 Microsoft employees who are seeking to improve their working conditions through collective organization.
This move comes after a series of widespread layoffs, the most recent of which occurred in July and led to the cancellation of several highly anticipated titles, including Perfect Dark and Rare’s Everwild.
Kelly Yeo, a Game Producer for Diablo’s Team 3 and a member of the organizing committee, shared her feelings: “With each new round of layoffs, I see the growing fear in my colleagues’ eyes. It’s as if no amount of effort can shield us from the instability.”
The industry’s struggles are well recognized, with many seeing these layoffs as a sign of deeper issues. Despite record sales numbers reported by many companies, thousands of jobs have been cut in recent years. Not just Blizzard, but others like Electronic Arts, Sony, and Ubisoft have also announced large-scale layoffs or shut down smaller studios permanently.
Skye Hoefling, a senior software engineer on Diablo, expressed her pride in working for Blizzard and her love for the game. “I’ve grown up playing Diablo, and I feel fortunate to be part of something that’s meaningful to both the gaming community and myself. But passion doesn’t shield us from job insecurity. Our union gives us a chance to focus on creating great experiences without constantly worrying about our employment stability.”
The union’s goal is to offer members greater job security, better working conditions, and a stronger voice in their workplace—especially in an environment still marred by uncertainty. Ryan Littleton, another Diablo designer, shared a personal story highlighting the pervasive atmosphere of fear. “The day after the third round of layoffs, I went to the office, and when I tried to get into the cafeteria, my badge was denied. For a moment, I wondered if that was how I’d find out I was let go,” he recounted.
The movement has gained considerable momentum, with many game industry workers banding together to form the United Videogame Workers union, advocating for better rights and protections across the sector.
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