GDC 2025 Session Viewer
Game Career Seminar: Industry at a Crossroads: Union Experiences in Video Games
Samuel Cooper (Senior Game Producer, Blizzard Entertainment)
Taylor Welling (Art Producer, Bethesda Game Studio)
Tom Smith (Director of Organizing, Communications Workers of America)
Simon Prefontaine (Game Designer, Bethesda Game Studio)
Autumn Mitchell (QA Tester, Zenimax/Bethesda)
Pass Type: All Access Pass, Core Pass, Summits Pass, Expo Pass, Audio Pass, Indie Games Summit Pass, Friday Only Pass - Get your pass now!
Track: Game Career Development
Format: Panel
Vault Recording: TBD
Audience Level: All
This session brings together leaders of the unionization movement in video games, including those who have successfully unionized some of the largest AAA studios and notable indies, as well as negotiating groundbreaking workplace standards through a union contract. The panelists share the experiences and impact of unionization, and offer concrete tips for those interested in joining the movement to raise standards for video game workers. The panel includes union leaders at Bethesda Games Studio, Blizzard Entertainment, and Zenimax, and goes beyond past discussion and highlight the actual accomplishments and ongoing work of building the union movement in video games.
Takeaway
Attendees will walk away with an understanding of the process and practice of forming a union. They will hear experiences of leaders who have successfully unionized their workplace, and leave with the inspiration and next steps in how to expand the movement to transform the industry.
Intended Audience
This session is for anyone in the industry that is generally interested in the experience and impact of unionization, those that want to learn more to help aid their workplace organizing, or those that have concerns or doubts that want to hear more.
