More than 240 game developers at Bethesda Game Studios have formally unionized under the Communications Workers of America.
The move, having created major franchises like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, indicates that unionization will bring changes not only to the current employees but to the whole video game industry.
Bethesda Game Studios Developers Forge Historic Union with CWA
The union, which represents everyone from artists to engineers, programmers, and designers, was shared enthusiastically on Twitter by OneBGS_USA. According to the CWA, this will be a “wall-to-wall” union, meaning that all eligible job titles at Bethesda now have official representation.
We, a majority of developers at Bethesda Game Studios Dallas, Rockville, and Austin, are ecstatic to announce the formation of our union with @CWAUnion. Together as #OneBGSUSA, we advocate for the betterment of every developer at BGS, setting the new standard for our industry.
— OneBGS_USA (@OneBGS_USA) July 19, 2024
This is the first time Microsoft-owned game studios have been organized; previous unions under Microsoft Gaming had comprised QA testers only.
Microsoft support for unionization
Microsoft’s move to give in to Bethesda’s union is very remarkable. The company had already given its nod to other unions that QA workers formed in Activision and ZeniMax Studios.
Catalina Brennan-Gatica of the CWA verified Microsoft’s recognition of the Bethesda union as a palpable trend shift in the industry’s approach towards unionization.
A tweet from OneBGS_USA announced, “We, the majority of developers at Bethesda Game Studios Dallas, Rockville, and Austin, are proud to announce that we are joining our union with the CWA.”
The group declared, “Together as #OneBGSUSA, we stand up for the betterment of every developer at BGS, setting the new standard for our industry.”
Union Representation and Further Impacts
The Bethesda developers will belong to CWA Local 2108 in Maryland and CWA Local 6215 in Texas. Microsoft has not made any statement yet, but the bottom line of this unionization drive is that it laid down one concrete thing the development team at Bethesda is trying to say: a noisy voice and a secure future for them inside the company.
This could well open up this unionization at Bethesda to scrutiny from other studios and game makers. Should the initiative to unionize within Bethesda prove successful, the floodgates would be open for similar moves that would hit the industry—some changes that could substantially impact how game developers are compensated and treated.
A New High Water Mark for the Gaming Industry
The decision by Bethesda developers to unionize with the CWA sets a new precedent in the gaming industry.
It epitomizes a growing urge among game developers for better representation and improved working conditions.
As the industry evolves, this landmark unionization could inspire other game studios to do the same, ultimately fostering a more equal and supportive environment for game developers.
Bethesda Game Studios unionizing with the CWA gives them a place in history, which could also mean a lot of change and potentially new standards in treating game developers within the industry.
To top it off, it is driven by the collective will of a development team encompassing people of all diverse segments at Bethesda and pushed by Microsoft.
About the Author(114 Articles Published)
Jeeva Shanmugam is a highly skilled content writer with expertise in writing articles, blogs, and other forms of content on various Esports-related topics.
