Blizzard's Story and Franchise Team Officially Joins CWA Union with Microsoft's Support

The Story and Franchise Development (SFD) team: at Blizzard Entertainment has voted to join the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union, a move acknowledged by Microsoft, Blizzard's parent company. This vital team is responsible for designing and producing cinematics, animations, and storytelling for Blizzard's popular game series, including in-game cutscenes and promotional videos. The department also includes archivists and historians who preserve the legacy of iconic game franchises such as World of Warcraft and Overwatch. According to a CWA spokesperson, approximately 169 team members are expected to join the local branch of the union.

Reasons for Joining and Employee Statements

Commenting on this decision: Baki Fisk, a lead editor and organizing committee member, stated: "After more than a decade at Blizzard, I've seen all the good and bad times. For years, Blizzard was a place where employees could build their careers and stay for decades, but that stability began to fade. With the union, we are able to preserve what makes this place special, ensure true transparency in decision-making, and make sure policies are applied fairly to everyone."

Sammy Kay: an associate producer at Blizzard and another organizing committee member, added: "These past few months have felt significant and comforting given what has happened to video game workers across the industry. At multiple points in my life, I was always told to accept things as they are, but with organizing, we are able to build a better future than we found."

Similar Developments at Microsoft

This development comes: amidst a growing wave of unionization within Microsoft's gaming studios. Last March, approximately 600 QA employees at Activision joined the CWA. The QA team at ZeniMax studios also ratified their union agreement in June, while the Raven Software team reached a union contract earlier this month.