Bethesda Game Studios Montreal has filed to unionize. The video game industry has faced plenty of turmoil in the past year and a half. Many people were laid off from their jobs and studios were closed, including various branches of Bethesda. This wave of layoffs continued regardless of how popular the studio that a developer belonged to seemed to be. Because of the lack of predictability in these layoffs, developers and fans alike appeared to lose much of their trust in the security of the video game industry.
In addition to issues like layoffs, the gaming industry has faced other problems such as crunch, discrimination, and a struggle for fair wages. Although it has seemed difficult to find a solution, unionization has often been the next step for workers to seek. In 2021, Vodeo Games became the first studio to unionize in the North American gaming industry. As time passes, even more workers appear to be seeking unionization as a measure to help avoid more of these problems.
The developers at Bethesda Game Studios Montreal have announced the company's unionization. In a post shared by the Studio's social media account, Bethesda Game Studios Montreal explains that it has filed for certification from the Quebec Labour Board, intending to unionize with the Canadian branch of Communications Workers of America. This move may not be surprising to those who have been paying attention to the state of the video game industry, especially with Xbox's recent closure of four other Bethesda studios.
Bethesda Game Studios Montreal Unionization Announcement
Gamers have been pressing Xbox for answers when it comes to why these studios, including Tango Gameworks, developer of Hi-Fi Rush, were shut down. Executives have been reluctant to fully elucidate fans on the matter, but Xbox executive Matt Booty has hinted towards what some of the reasoning might be, implying that it has much to do with Shinji Mikami leaving the studio, despite his plans to prevent that.
With unionization at Bethesda Game Studios Montreal, it appears developers are searching for ways to minimize the likelihood of situations like the Xbox studio closures and ensure more reasonable working conditions. On its own social media, CWA Canada has responded with congratulations to Bethesda Game Studios Montreal, expressing enthusiasm at the opportunity to work with the company. Bethesda Game Studios Montreal states that it hopes to inspire other developers to join in a push for an improvement of workers' rights in the video game industry.
