US and Canada Video Game Workers Form Industry-Wide Union

A landmark industry-wide union for video game workers in the US and Canada, the United Videogame Workers-CWA (UVW-CWA), has officially launched. Aiming to unite artists, writers, designers, QA testers, programmers, freelancers, and more, the union seeks to empower workers regardless of studio or employment status. Debuting at GDC's "Video Game Labor at a Crossroads" panel, the UVW-CWA will circulate a petition to garner support and highlight the recent wave of industry layoffs—a significant issue, given that 10% of developers lost their jobs in 2024. The union operates on a direct-join model, allowing workers to bypass traditional unionization processes. While its industry-wide adoption and recognition by major publishers remain uncertain, it represents a significant step in the ongoing struggle between game industry workers and corporate entities.