On Wednesday, during the 2025 Game Developers Conference, union organizers and video game developers held a march and gathered in a nearby park for a rally in support of the newly announced United Videogame Workers union. With the slogan “We are not playing anymore,” the crowd demanded a living wage and highlighted critical issues such as mass layoffs, the culture of overwork, and discrimination within the industry.
Video game industry unions rebel against working conditions
The new union is linked to the Communication Workers of America, which has been organizing developers at major companies like Activision Blizzard and ZeniMax. “What we are building with United Videogame Workers is a union focused on action and change in the industry,” commented Melanie Barron, senior campaign leader of CODE-CWA, in statements to PC Gamer during the event. Barron emphasized that many workers have been affected by devastating layoffs and that a voice is needed to address abuse and the lack of fair treatment in companies.
The participants of the rally expressed their discontent with the current business model of the industry, emphasizing that “we make these games, not the damn AI, and not the damn executives.” This strong message emphasizes that, in their opinion, human talent is fundamental in the creative process and cannot be replaced by artificial intelligence or by business decisions that prioritize profits over the well-being of workers.
The union plans to create powerful public campaigns that invite more workers to join the movement, seeking to transform the industry and respect the effort and skill required to create this form of art that is video games. The mobilization at GDC 2025 has become a turning point to highlight the struggle for developers’ rights in a sector facing significant labor challenges.
