Nearly 200 Blizzard Overwatch 2 Developers Unionize Amid 2024 Layoffs

Nearly 200 developers of Blizzard's Overwatch 2 have unionized, forming the Overwatch Gamemakers Guild under the Communications Workers of America (CWA), marking the second wall-to-wall union at Blizzard after the World of Warcraft team unionized in July 2024. This union encompasses almost all non-management employees, including artists, designers, engineers, and QA testers, aiming to secure protections against layoffs, pay disparities, work-from-home policies, and crunch time. The union formation was driven in part by Microsoft’s sweeping layoffs of over 1,900 employees in early 2024, which deeply affected morale and job security among the Overwatch 2 team. The union joins several other Microsoft-owned gaming studios with organized labor, following a 2022 labor neutrality agreement intended to prevent management interference in unionizing efforts. While Microsoft has officially recognized the union, the bargaining process for the first contract has yet to begin, with accusations of delays similar to those faced by other internal unions. Members stress that unionization provides a platform for developers to advocate for fair treatment and a sense of security in an industry long marked by instability and inequity.