Tentative Microsoft Contract for Elder Scrolls, Fallout QA Workers

ZeniMax Media's quality assurance workers have reached a tentative contract agreement with Microsoft after nearly two years of negotiations. This milestone for the unionized team, part of ZeniMax Workers United under the Communications Workers of America, includes significant wage increases, salary minimums, job security, grievance procedures, and AI usage protections. These developments reflect ongoing efforts in the gaming industry to improve labor conditions and support unionization. The agreement still requires ratification by union members by June 20.

The contract includes substantial across-the-board wage increases, minimum salaries, protections against arbitrary dismissal, grievance procedures, safeguards concerning artificial intelligence, and a crediting policy to ensure QA workers receive proper recognition in the games they contribute to.

ZeniMax Media, known for franchises like The Elder Scrolls and Doom, was acquired by Microsoft for $8.1 billion in 2021. The unionization efforts at ZeniMax began in early 2023, positioning them alongside prominent industry groups pushing for fairer working conditions amid growing concerns over worker exploitation in video game development.