Wizards of the Coast Developers Form Union with CWA

Workers behind Magic: The Gathering Arena seek voluntary recognition by Hasbro subsidiary after a supermajority signed cards in favor of union representation 

Renton, Wash. – Ahead of International Workers’ Day, a supermajority of game developers behind the popular digital game Magic: The Gathering Arena has announced their intent to form a union with the Communications Workers of America (CWA), also marking the first unionization effort at Hasbro subsidiary Wizards of the Coast, a popular digital and tabletop studio based in Washington State, most known for developing Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons.

“At Wizards, we’re organizing for a say in layoffs, accountability that runs up and down the chain, and a living wage that actually lets people build a life. I’m hopeful about what we can build here and being clear-eyed about why it’s necessary,” said UWOTC-CWA member Damien Wilson, a Senior Software Development Engineer for Magic: The Gathering Arena. “This isn’t just something that affects Wizards of the Coast; it’s how most American workplaces are set up: investor profit above all, even if it hurts those behind the products we all know and love. Unions are the missing counterweight to protect our craft.”

In a letter sent to management this morning, workers have outlined several issues that they hope to address as a union, including protections over layoffs and remote work, guardrails over generative AI usage and mandatory crunch time, and increased transparency and equity in the workplace. “We know the workers who make the game can and should be treated better, and our aim is to show that to the world through our union efforts,” the letter reads. 

Workers have given management until the end of the week to voluntarily recognize their union. To ensure a timely certification process, workers have also filed an election petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

“To me, a union means community. It means recognizing that we're all in this together and making sure we all have a voice. It means that when we succeed, we succeed together,” said UWOTC-CWA member Xib Vaine, a Producer for Magic: The Gathering Arena. “It means that we all believe a better world is possible, and we are all going to work together to bring it forth so we can all live and work in that better world together.”

“Since moving to the United States after spending most of my working life in other countries, at-will employment has always felt like a dark cloud hanging over me and my colleagues in the industry,” said UWOTC-CWA member Neil White, a Senior Software Development Engineer for Magic: The Gathering Arena. “Unions are the tool we have as workers to push back on our employers to demand fair treatment. They’re how we protect against choices that impact our coworkers and friends and the product we all work on and love.”

This announcement expands the growing union efforts specifically in the tabletop roleplaying games industry. In June 2023, CWA-represented workers at popular tabletop publisher Paizo (United Paizo Workers-CWA Local 7800) ratified their first contract with their employer, securing wage increases, expanded benefits, and enhanced protections for workers. Over 4,000 workers have organized across the gaming industry to expand game worker solidarity as part of CWA’s Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA), spanning from AAA studios in Microsoft’s gaming division to indie publishers like Heart Machine, which voluntarily recognized their union last month.

“Today’s union announcement is a milestone not just for these workers but for the games industry as a whole. Whether someone is designing digital worlds or crafting tabletop experiences, every worker deserves job security, fair compensation, and a seat at the table,” said CWA District 7 Vice President Susie McAllister. “Together, we will ensure that the people who bring these games to life are treated with the dignity and respect that they’ve always deserved. CWA District 7 is honored to stand with these members as they take this historic step toward union representation.”

Workers who either have been affected by the industry’s volatile layoffs or are freelance have also been joining the fight under CWA’s direct-join formation, United Videogame Workers-CWA Local 9433 (UVW-CWA), which officially launched in 2025. UVW-CWA now has nearly 600 members across the United States and Canada and will be hosting their inaugural Game Workers Conference virtually on May 22 and 23.

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About CODE-CWA

The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) is a network of worker-organizers and their staff working every single day to build the voice and power necessary to ensure the future of the tech, game, and digital industries in the United States and Canada. CODE-CWA is a project of the Communications Workers of America, which represents hundreds of thousands of workers throughout tech, media, telecom, and other industries who stand together to fight for justice on the job and in our communities.

cwa-union.org @cwaunion