Unionized Microsoft workers are staging coordinated rallies today, July 15th, outside Xbox-owned studios to protest mass layoffs initiated last week. The Communications Workers of America (CWA) union reports that over 400 union-represented positions across Bethesda Game Studios, ZeniMax, and id Software have been eliminated. In a show of solidarity, modders have updated Bethesda titles with union logos and protest imagery, following a similar effort in Skyrim with Fallout 4 now being the latest game to receive such modifications.
The CWA-organized protests are scheduled to occur at six North American locations, including Microsoft's campus in Redmond, Washington; ZeniMax studios in Austin, Texas, and Rockville, Maryland; id Software's studio in Dallas, Texas; Obsidian Entertainment's headquarters in Irvine, California; and a rally outside Montreal's Victoria Square Park in Canada.
"As Microsoft restructures, the workers powering its biggest franchises deserve protection, not to be treated like disposable line items," stated Derrick Osobase, vice president of the CWA's District 6, in a union statement. He emphasized that the layoffs directly impact the teams behind iconic games such as Doom, Quake, Elder Scrolls, and Fallout, potentially leading to reduced game quality, longer release delays, and ultimately harming both players and Microsoft's revenue.
In response to the layoffs, veteran modder Elianora, in collaboration with modder greenFoxel, has released two mods for Fallout 4: 'Unified Front - save our devs' and 'One for All and All For One - Support the Devs'. These mods introduce pro-union protest signs, vault suits bearing the OneBGS union logo, and various union-themed banners and posters for in-game settlements. The aim is to provide streamers, YouTubers, and players with a way to express support for the affected workers and raise awareness about unionization efforts within the game industry.