Double Fine Productions, the studio behind games like Psychonauts and Kiln, has taken steps to become a unionized entity. Workers announced their decision to form a union with the Communication Workers of America (CWA), stating the aim is to "preserve and extend the studio’s commitments to creative excellence, diversity and inclusion, and worker quality of life." This move follows a petition filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Microsoft has adopted a neutral stance on the unionization effort.
The union will encompass all regular part-time and full-time employees, totaling 42 individuals. This development places Double Fine among a growing number of Microsoft-owned game development studios to organize. The CWA has been active in similar efforts across Microsoft's gaming divisions, including those at Activision and ZeniMax.
The timing of this unionization coincides with a period of reevaluation for Microsoft's gaming business. The petition was submitted mere weeks after the launch of Kiln, Double Fine's latest release, which, like their previous title Keeper, has seen limited traction on Steam, though its reach via Game Pass remains a possibility.
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Double Fine has requested voluntary recognition from Microsoft for the union. The CWA's involvement signifies a continued push for workers' rights within the industry, with the organization having previously aided in establishing what is described as the first industry-wide video game union in North America. Microsoft's agreement to a neutral approach marks a departure from past practices, following the expiration of a prior neutrality agreement late last year.
