Blizzard Entertainment and Tech Workers Join CWA Union

On Wednesday, more than 400 employees from Blizzard Entertainment’s Platform and Technology department voted to unionize under the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The union has been officially recognized by Microsoft, marking one of the largest organized groups within a major game studio.

The new unit includes software engineers, designers, project managers, and support staff working on Battle.net and other Blizzard services. Employees will be represented by CWA Local 9510 in Irvine, California, and CWA Local 6215 in Austin, Texas.

“We are forming a union to hold leadership accountable and to ensure that we can focus on building amazing experiences for the gaming community,” said Daniel Weltz, a principal software engineer and member of the organizing committee.

Microsoft recognition strengthens Blizzard worker union drive

Organizing committee members said layoffs, low compensation, and strict return-to-office mandates motivated the decision.

In the coming weeks, the group will elect a bargaining committee and survey members to identify top priorities before contract negotiations begin with Microsoft. Issues such as job security, pay transparency, and hybrid work flexibility are expected to lead the agenda.

Earlier this month, CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. met Blizzard employees in Irvine to show support for ongoing union efforts. More than 100 workers from other Activision Blizzard and Microsoft studios joined a solidarity walk alongside the World of Warcraft bargaining committee.

The Blizzard unit joins the wider United Videogame Workers-CWA (UVW-CWA) network, which seeks to raise standards across the video game workforce. Local CWA leaders said the unionization represents a shift from passion-driven work to sustainable careers in game development.

Industry observers see the move as part of a broader trend toward worker organization in gaming, where studios are under pressure to address job stability, fair compensation, and workplace rights.