warcraft dev team just did something shocking and historic

The developers behind World of Warcraft, one of the top MMORPGs globally, have officially unionized. Over 500 employees from Blizzard Entertainment, spanning roles like designers, engineers, producers, and QA testers, voted in favor. The new union is named World of Warcraft Game Makers Guild (WoWGG) and is affiliated with Communications Workers of America (CWA). Additionally, a separate union was formed by 60 QA workers in Austin, Texas, with CWA's support, focusing on titles like Diablo and Hearthstone. This move follows Microsoft's acquisition of Blizzard and its commitment to labor neutrality, allowing the employees to organize without interference. The union’s main goals are pay equity and the ability to work remotely, offering a more democratic representation for Blizzard employees after past issues like harassment and inequality allegations. The unionization is seen as part of a broader trend towards increased union efforts across the gaming industry, inspired by previous successes at SEGA and Zenimax.

The unionization was primarily prompted by employee frustrations over harassment, inequality, and Blizzard's handling of these issues, which were highlighted by a significant lawsuit and internal walkouts. The drive for better representation and working conditions, aided by Microsoft's labor neutrality agreement, also played key roles.

World of Warcraft, released in 2004 by Blizzard Entertainment, has been a hallmark in the MMORPG genre for nearly two decades. Its expansive world, complex lore, and engaging gameplay have kept millions of players subscribed over the years. Blizzard’s acquisition by Microsoft and the recent union developments suggest potential changes in how employee concerns are addressed and could impact future content and community interactions within the game.