Unionised video game testers at ZeniMax, a Microsoft-owned company, have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. This marks Microsoft’s first-ever union contract in the United States.
A historic step for Microsoft and game workers
If you work in gaming or follow the industry, you’ll know that workers often seek better pay, security, and a fair voice at work. That’s precisely what around 300 quality assurance (QA) testers at ZeniMax, the company behind titles like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, aimed for when they joined the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union in early 2023.
On June 1, after more than two years of talks with Microsoft, the union announced they had reached a tentative contract deal. Microsoft bought ZeniMax in 2021 for US$7.5 billion, and since then, this has become a key moment in the relationship between big tech companies and organised labour.
If ratified, the contract will go into effect after a union vote set for June 20. One of the biggest wins? A 13.5% pay rise for all union members, starting July 1. This raise is seen as a huge step forward for video game workers, who are often underpaid despite the industry’s billions in revenue.
What’s in the contract?
The contract offers more money and sets clear terms around using artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace. According to Bloomberg, this clause had already been agreed upon earlier but is now written into the formal deal. With AI becoming more common in game development, the union says this helps protect jobs and outlines fair use of technology.
QA tester and union member Page Branson called the deal “a monumental victory” in a public statement. She said it sets the stage for better working conditions at ZeniMax and the wider games industry. “This win shows what’s possible when we come together and stand up for each other,” Branson added.
Microsoft’s growing union presence
ZeniMax’s QA team may have been the first to unionise at Microsoft, but they won’t be the last. Since then, other teams across Microsoft’s gaming division have followed their lead, joining the CWA and strengthening the call for change in the industry. The union now says it represents more than 2,000 Microsoft workers.
This contract sets a new example. Microsoft is one of the largest tech companies in the world, and working with the union sends a message that collaboration—not conflict—can lead to better outcomes for everyone.
If you’re part of the video game world, this deal could shape your future, too. It shows that when workers organise and stay the course, even global giants can be moved to listen.
