According to Aftermath, on May 7, Double Fine employees filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board. The union is intended to cover all full-time and part-time employees of the studio — a total of 42 people.
The CWA stated that the initiative's goal is to "preserve and advance the studio's commitment to creativity, diversity, and employee quality of life." The organization also noted that Microsoft has taken a neutral stance and is not interfering with the unionization process.
This is not the first such case within the Xbox gaming division. Previously, employees of Activision Blizzard and ZeniMax Media studios began forming unions. Some teams have already signed initial agreements, but some negotiations are still ongoing.
The rise in the number of unions in the gaming industry is associated with mass layoffs, concerns about AI, and issues of working conditions. Employees hope that such organizations will help better protect workers' rights and negotiate during layoffs and outsourcing.