Overview
- ZeniMax Online Studios, revered for creating The Elder Scrolls Online, has unionized by establishing ZOS United-CWA.
- The employees seek to implement safeguards against layoffs and enhance workplace conditions.
- The unionized ZeniMax Online will continue its collaboration with Microsoft on The Elder Scrolls Online.
ZeniMax Online Media, widely recognized for its work on The Elder Scrolls Online, has officially unionized. As a subsidiary of Microsoft-owned ZeniMax Media, it joins the Communications Workers of America (CWA), a prominent national union that encompasses the entertainment, communications, and information sectors. While the exact impact on ESO and future projects remains unclear, the union aims to provide employees with increased job security and an enhanced workplace environment.
This significant announcement follows months of organizing and negotiations with Microsoft. Approximately 300 quality assurance testers at ZeniMax voted to unionize back in January 2023, which eventually led to a strike in November 2024 due to ongoing labor disputes. With this recent development, the union’s status has transitioned from proposed to official.
On December 12, 2024, the ZOS United-CWA publicly declared its formation via BlueSky, marking a pivotal moment for the organization. Microsoft, recognizing the union’s legitimacy, has expressed a commitment to working collaboratively to avert major disputes. In its announcement, ZOS United-CWA emphasized its commitment to pushing for improvements in job security as well as safeguarding employees from the implications of AI technology. While issues such as outsourcing and remote work were not explicitly addressed, they are anticipated to influence the union’s initiatives, given their previous relevance in the recent strike.
ZeniMax Online’s Participation in a Broader Union Movement
Today we, a majority of video game workers at ZeniMax Online Studios and the workers behind ESO, are proud to announce the launch of our union with @cwaunion.bsky.social! ✊— ZOS United-CWA (@zosunited.bsky.social)2024-12-13T00:24:40.773Z
ZeniMax Online has joined a burgeoning trend of unionization within the video game industry. It is not the first Microsoft-owned studio to take this significant step; earlier in 2024, Bethesda Game Studios had similarly unionized under the CWA. Shortly thereafter, teams behind the iconic World of Warcraft followed suit. This movement is in response to increasing layoffs in the industry and the rising fears regarding job security in the face of AI advancements. Although the long-term effects of these unions on the industry and its employment dynamics are still uncertain, their ascent might inspire other studios to explore similar organizational frameworks.
With ZeniMax Online now unionized, the studio is expected to continue its partnership with Microsoft on ESO under potentially more favorable working conditions, should the union achieve its outlined objectives. Currently, the studio is also focused on developing a new project, yet specific information about this title remains limited. The implications of this unionization for the new game’s development are still unknown, and any observable changes may not become apparent to fans anytime soon. As the video game industry navigates this transition, the growing trend of unionization among developers is a significant phenomenon to monitor.
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