On Friday, a significant majority of user research workers at Activision voted to unionize with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). This decision was made either through signing a union authorization card or by indicating their preference for union representation via an online portal. These workers will join CWA Local 9400 in Los Angeles, and Microsoft has acknowledged the union.
The newly formed Activision User Research Union-CWA marks the first instance of video game user researchers forming a union. They join over 2,000 employees at Microsoft-owned studios organizing under Microsoft’s neutrality agreement with CWA. The user researchers aim to achieve better workplace conditions, including higher wages, job security amid widespread layoffs in the industry, and transparency regarding promotions and career advancement.
Nicolaas VanMeerten, an organizing committee member and quantitative user researcher, expressed enthusiasm about joining other game makers in building workplace solidarity. “Many of us were mobilized to do something about the layoffs in 2023 and 2024,” VanMeerten stated. “Now we can look out for each other with a union.”
User research in the video game industry involves understanding player opinions and behaviors to provide insights to development teams. By engaging players directly, user research serves as a bridge between game designers and players.
Pat Dimaandal, another organizing committee member and user research moderator, emphasized the importance of creating an industry that benefits its workers: “Workers should not feel punished for pursuing a career that they love.”
Maurice Washington, President of CWA Local 9400, highlighted the necessity of giving workers a protected voice on the job: “We are proud to welcome these workers to CWA and are looking forward to meeting Microsoft at the bargaining table.”
The certification comes shortly after United Videogame Workers-CWA (UVW-CWA) launched as an industry-wide video game union aiming to empower workers regardless of their employer or current job status. Since its inception at the 2025 Game Developer Conference, over 350 members have joined UVW-CWA.
The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA), part of this effort under CWA’s umbrella, is dedicated to building worker power across tech-related industries in North America.
