Activision User Research Workers Form Union Under Microsoft

Activision user research workers have officially unionized under Microsoft.

A majority of research employees voted in favor of forming a union, according to a press release from the Communication Workers of America (CWA).

Microsoft has also voluntarily recognized the union, sticking to its commitment to support labor organization efforts, a stance it first outlined in 2022.

Organizing committee member and quantitative user researcher Nicolaas VanMeerten explained why this move is important, saying:

“We are excited to join our fellow game makers across the video game industry to show what’s possible when workers can freely build solidarity in the workplace. Many of us were mobilized to do something about the layoffs in 2023 and 2024, and now we can look out for each other with a union.”

With this development, the union joins over 2,000 unionized workers across Microsoft’s gaming divisions, including quality assurance (QA) teams at Activision, Bethesda Game Studios, Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft team, ZeniMax Online Studios, and ZeniMax QA.

Activision’s user research team plays a big role in game development, analyzing player data and feedback to help fine-tune games.

The union is pushing for better pay, stronger job security, and more transparency when it comes to promotions.

Unionization in the gaming industry has been gaining traction, especially as layoffs continue to hit hard. Reports show that over 20,000 gaming employees have lost their jobs in the past couple of years due to studio closures and canceled projects. In response, more workers are coming together to demand fair treatment and a say in workplace decisions.

This news follows the launch of the United Video Game Workers-CWA, an industry-wide gaming union open to workers in the U.S. and Canada, including those who have been laid off. Announced during the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2025, the union already has over 350 members and continues to grow.