Hundreds of Diablo Game Developers Join Communications Workers of America

https://cwa-union.org/news/releases/hundreds-diablo-game-developers-join-communications-workers-america


August 28, 2025

NATIONWIDE – Today, over 450 game developers behind the popular video game series Diablo have voted strongly in favor of union representation with the Communications Workers of America (CWA), either by signing a union authorization card or indicating that they wanted union representation via an online portal. As the latest wave in video game organizing, the workers will be members of CWA Local 9510 in Irvine, Calif.; CWA Local 1118 in Albany, N.Y.; and CWA Local 6215 in Austin, Texas. Microsoft has recognized their union.

"With every subsequent round of mass layoffs, I've witnessed the dread in my coworkers grow stronger because it feels like no amount of hard work is enough to protect us," said Kelly Yeo, Team 3 Game Producer on Diablo and organizing committee member. “I am overjoyed that we have formed a union—this is just the first step for us joining a movement spreading across an industry that is tired of living in fear. We are ready to begin fighting for real change alongside our Diablo colleagues.”

“I grew up playing Diablo, and I feel lucky that I get to work at Blizzard on a game that’s very special to me and the gaming community,” said Skye Hoefling, Team 3 Senior Software Engineer II on Diablo and organizing committee member. “But passion can’t protect us from job instability. Our union allows us to focus on making magical experiences for our players instead of worrying about the unstable job industry.”

The unit, which includes game developers, artists, designers, engineers, and support staff across the Diablo franchise, is one of the largest wall-to-wall unions at a Microsoft-owned studio and builds off the momentum of Blizzard’s Story and Franchise Development workers securing union representation and Microsoft workers securing historic contracts at ZeniMax Media and Raven Software.

FULL story at link above.