strike by a video game studio to denounce working conditions

Hundreds of employees at ZeniMax, the studio behind the Fallout video game, went on strike Wednesday to protest the outsourcing of certain tasks and the lack of options for working remotely, according to a message published in line by their union. “Today we are on strike”said ZeniMax Workers United on X. “We are not afraid to do what is necessary to bring Microsoft to the negotiating table on (these) key issues.”

The branch of the CWA (Communication Workers of America) union said that hundreds of ZeniMax employees in Maryland (northeast United States) and Texas (south) were on strike all day for “tell Microsoft to stop dragging its feet” when it comes to employee demands for job security and improved working conditions.

More and more unionized workers

Microsoft acquired ZeniMax Media for $7.5 billion in 2021, marking a major expansion of its Xbox division that gave it ownership of several successful franchises. ZeniMax is the parent company of Bethesda Softworks, publisher of the Fallout and Elder Scrolls franchises. Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request from AFP.

Bethesda Game Studios employees joined the CWA in July after complaining about grueling workloads and lack of job security. They joined “a wave of workers” who have unionized in the video game industry, according to the CWA, which has members at Activision Blizzard (publisher of Call of Duty also bought by Microsoft), ZeniMax, Tender Claws and SEGA of America.