Level Up! ZeniMax QA Testers Score Historic First Union Contract with Microsoft, Forging New Path for Game Devs
A monumental shift is underway in the video game industry. ZeniMax Workers United, representing over 300 dedicated quality assurance (QA) testers behind blockbuster franchises like Fallout and Doom, has officially become the first game developer union in the United States to secure a contract with a major publisher, Microsoft. This landmark agreement marks a significant victory for labor rights within the gaming world.
The hard-won contract brings tangible benefits for the ZeniMax QA staff, including crucial wage increases, established salary minimums, and formalized crediting procedures – a long-standing point of contention for many in game development.
Jessee Leese, a ZeniMax QA tester and member of the bargaining committee, powerfully articulated the achievement: “Video games have been the revenue titan of the entire entertainment industry for years, and the workers who develop these games are too often exploited for their passion and creativity. Organizing unions, bargaining for a contract, and speaking with one collective voice has allowed workers to take back the autonomy we all deserve. Our first contract is an invitation for video game professionals everywhere to take action. We’re the ones who make these games, and we’ll be the ones to set new standards for fair treatment.”
This groundbreaking contract is now set for review by the full ZeniMax Workers United membership, with a ratification vote scheduled for June 20. Upon successful ratification, the developers at ZeniMax, which includes renowned studios like Bethesda Game Studios, will have achieved the first collective bargaining agreement among the wave of major gaming unions that have formed in recent years.
The ripple effect of this victory is already being felt. Employees at Sega of America are currently in contract negotiations, as are developers at other Microsoft-owned studios, including the teams behind Overwatch 2 and World of Warcraft at Blizzard, and Call of Duty testers at Raven Software. The ZeniMax agreement will undoubtedly serve as an important benchmark and source of inspiration for these ongoing talks.
The path to this contract wasn’t without its challenges. The agreement comes just two months after ZeniMax union employees threatened to strike if a deal wasn’t reached, following a negotiation process that spanned nearly two years. The Communications Workers of America (CWA), which represents ZeniMax Workers United and other Microsoft gaming unions, had previously filed an unfair labor practice claim against the tech giant, alleging it was deliberately slow-walking the negotiations.
This newly forged contract, once ratified, signals a potential turning point for labor relations in the AAA gaming space, establishing critical precedents for fair compensation, recognition, and working conditions for the talented individuals who bring virtual worlds to life.
