Video game developers form first Microsoft labor union

Employees with video game developer ZeniMax Studios have formed a labor union, becoming the first such organization for a Microsoft-owned company.

The unionization campaign predates Microsoft's acquisition of the company and the Big Tech firm intends to permit the group's formation, according to the Associated Press. Microsoft bought ZeniMax in 2021. The developer is known for major titles such as The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, which it produces through Bethesda Studios.

The union largely includes game testers and other quality assurance personnel.

The Communications Workers of America confirmed Tuesday that roughly 300 employees of the studio had voted to join. The CWA celebrated the successful creation of the ZeniMax union, acknowledging Microsoft's commitment to allowing the process to progress.

"They have definitely stood by their word all along. It's pretty momentous. Microsoft is an outlier in the way tech companies have been behaving," said CWA spokesperson Beth Allen, per the AP.

Microsoft is currently attempting to acquire Activision Blizzard, known for its major titles such as World of Warcraft, Call of Duty, and Diablo. That purchase has attracted both public and legal scrutiny, with the Federal Trade Commission asserting that the acquisition could present anti-trust concerns.