The folks behind the popular Magic: The Gathering - Arena digital game have officially unionized.
Heralded as a win for labor by many in the games industry, the developers and staff behind the digital version of the popular collectible card game have formed a union known as United Wizards of the Coast. It was created in partnership with Communications Workers of America, which will represent the workers in collective bargaining with Wizards of the Coast and its parent company, Hasbro.
"Today is a momentous day for the workers of Arena! After months of planning, waiting and organizing, our dream is finally a reality; the votes have been counted, and our union of UWOTC-CWA has been officially elected," the union stated on Twitter.
The union was formed because workers were seeking protections from layoffs and generative AI. Other points the union is addressing pertains to remote work protections, a sustainable workload, and defined career progression. They're also protecting its members' own creative output that occurs when off the clock, something Hasbro doesn't allow.
"Currently, if an employee makes anything creative in their free time, with their own resources, Hasbro may claim ownership. What we do in our free time should not be dictated by the company; neither should what we make in our free time be owned by the company," the union stated previously.
Wizards of the Coast has made a statement in response to the unionization on LinkedIn, stating "We now look ahead to working with the CWA in good faith and transparency as we enter the bargaining process. At Wizards, our commitment to building a culture where our people feel respected and valued and can continue to make incredible games and experiences for our players is unwavering."
