Double Fine Productions organizes a union
Intelligence Summary
- Double Fine Productions announces a union drive with the CWA, with 42 employees seeking to organize.
Double Fine Productions organizes a union
Double Fine Productions, a game studio based in San Francisco and known for titles such as Psychonauts and Kiln, has taken steps to form a union. The decision, made public on May 7, 2026, is being carried out in partnership with the Communications Workers of America (CWA).
Organizing effort and NLRB
The union effort was officially filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on the same date. The union will represent 42 part-time and full-time employees at Double Fine Productions.
Historical context
The unionization effort comes amid a broader trend in the game industry, with more workers choosing to organize. In August 2025, 450 Blizzard Entertainment employees voted to form a union, followed by 165 developers at id Software who unionized in December of that same year.
Microsoft's response
Microsoft, which has owned Double Fine since 2019, has said it will not interfere with employees' organizing efforts. The CWA has welcomed Microsoft's neutrality, citing the growing need for workers to protect and improve their rights within the gaming sector.
Timeline
2026-05-07: Double Fine Productions announces a union with the CWA and files with the NLRB.
2025-08: 450 Blizzard Entertainment employees vote to form a union.
2025-12: 165 id Software developers form a union.
By choosing to unionize, employees at Double Fine are underscoring their commitment to creativity, diversity, and quality of life in the workplace. The changes within Microsoft and among game developers are setting the stage for future negotiations over working conditions and rights across the industry.
Double Fine, meanwhile, has a long history of developing acclaimed and impactful games. Its most recently released project, Kiln, launched on April 23, 2026. The multiplayer game lets players shape clay and battle, highlighting the studio's innovative spirit.
The unionization effort at Double Fine Productions is indicative of broader changes across the gaming industry. As more developers choose to organize, it also raises questions about the effectiveness of corporate structures and how they affect creative processes and employee experiences.
It remains to be seen how these developments will unfold and what impact they will have on the future of Double Fine and the wider gaming community.
