Today, more than 300 unionized quality assurance workers at ZeniMax Media—who contribute to major titles like The Elder Scrolls and Doom—have announced reaching a tentative agreement with parent company Microsoft on their first contract. This milestone comes two years after the workers formed their union.
ZeniMax Workers United, which is affiliated with the Communications Workers of America (CWA), stated the deal features substantial wage increases across the board, minimum salary levels, safeguards against arbitrary termination, a clear grievance process, protections regarding the use of artificial intelligence that could affect jobs, and a crediting policy to ensure QA workers receive proper recognition in the games they help create.
ZeniMax Media owns publisher Bethesda Softworks and development studios such as Bethesda Game Studios (known for The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Starfield), id Software (creators of Doom, Quake, and Rage), Arkane (behind Dishonored, Prey, and Redfall), MachineGames (developer of Wolfenstein and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle), and ZeniMax Online Studios (responsible for The Elder Scrolls Online). Microsoft completed its acquisition of ZeniMax Media for $8.1 billion in March 2021 and now operates it as part of Microsoft Gaming.
“For years, video games have consistently outperformed other entertainment sectors in revenue, yet the developers behind these successes are often undercompensated for their passion and creativity," said Jessee Leese, a member of the bargaining committee.
"By forming unions, negotiating collectively, and speaking with a unified voice, we’ve reclaimed the professional autonomy that should belong to every worker. This first contract serves as a call to action for game industry professionals everywhere. We are the people who build these games, and it is up to us to establish new benchmarks for fair and equitable treatment.”
The ZeniMax QA team originally unionized in January 2023, following similar efforts by workers at Raven Software and Blizzard Albany. This came after Microsoft publicly committed to a labor neutrality policy. However, reaching a contract proved difficult. Last November, workers staged a one-day strike, voicing frustration over stalled negotiations on remote work protections and alleging that Microsoft was outsourcing QA jobs without consulting the union. In April, members voted overwhelmingly to authorize another strike, again raising issues around remote work and inadequate pay.
The tentative agreement is pending ratification through a union member vote, which is expected to conclude by June 20.
