We wrote about the union efforts at video game studios big + small. A recent survey found 53% of game developers support unionization. What’s driving this uptick? Concerns over “crunch” periods, low pay + claims of discrimination/abuse, among other factors
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The widening labor conflict has particular resonance in California, home to more gaming industry companies — over 600 of them — than any other state, according to the Entertainment Software Assn.
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A lot of these organizing efforts surround QA testers. Some I spoke with said that their work is seen as less-than, despite its importance. “There’s a lot of misconceptions that the job that we’re doing is simple and fun and appropriate for a teenager.”
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Worth noting that the rise in union interest comes amid a broader rise in pro-union sentiment, including among digital journalists. Industry consolidation has further fueled dissatisfaction at game studios acquired by multinational corporations
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And small studios are not immune to workers’ concerns simply due to their size: “Some of the greatest horror stories I’ve heard from my colleagues in the local game industry are from independent companies.”
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