Bethesda Game Studios Is Now Unionized Across The Board, Recognized By Microsoft

As a long-time gamer and follower of the gaming industry, I am thrilled to witness this historic moment as Bethesda Game Studios becomes the first Microsoft game studio to unionize with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). This is a significant step forward for the gaming industry, setting a new standard for better work conditions, job security, compensation transparency, and a stronger voice for developers.


I’m thrilled to share that Bethesda Game Studios, a beloved video game developer under Microsoft’s wing, has successfully joined the Communications Workers of America Union (CWA) as of July 19, 2023. This makes Bethesda the first Microsoft-owned gaming studio to unify its workforce entirely under this union.

I’ve been in the tech industry for quite some time now, and I’ve seen my fair share of companies making grand announcements about improving working conditions or advocating for their employees. But one announcement that truly caught my attention was from OneBGS_USA X on Twitter.

A large number of us developers at Bethesda Game Studios in Dallas, Rockville, and Austin are thrilled to share the news: We have joined forces with @CWAUnion to create a union called #OneBGSUSA. As one team, we aim to improve conditions for all BGS developers, raising the bar for our industry as a whole.

— OneBGS_USA (@OneBGS_USA) July 19, 2024

As a gamer putting myself in the shoes of a developer: I was among the 241 of us who made our voices heard for union representation. This group consisted of artists, engineers, programmers, and designers, all united in our desire to make a difference. We each took action by signing a union authorization card or expressing our intent to join through an online portal.

An important note is that this isn’t Bethesda’s first attempt at unionization. Around last year, ZeniMax Workers United, which primarily represents quality assurance staff, joined forces with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) to form a union named OneBGS_USA. The union is thought to consist of approximately 300 members, and Microsoft voluntarily acknowledged their union status.

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2024-07-22 23:09