More than 300 unionized quality assurance workers at ZeniMax Media, responsible for titles like The Elder Scrolls and Doom, have announced 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 significant wage increases across the board, minimum salary levels, safeguards against arbitrary termination, a clear grievance process, protections concerning the use of artificial intelligence that could affect jobs, and a crediting policy to ensure QA contributions are properly recognized in the games they help create.
ZeniMax Media owns Bethesda Softworks and development studios such as Bethesda Game Studios (The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Starfield), id Software (Doom, Quake, Rage), Arkane (Dishonored, Prey, Redfall), MachineGames (Wolfenstein, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle), and ZeniMax Online Studios (The Elder Scrolls Online). Microsoft completed its $8.1 billion acquisition of ZeniMax Media in March 2021, and the company now operates under the Microsoft Gaming division.
“For years, video games have consistently generated more revenue than any other entertainment sector, yet the talented people who build these worlds are frequently taken advantage of because of their passion and creativity,” said Jessee Leese, a bargaining committee member.
"By organizing, negotiating a contract, and speaking with a unified voice, we've reclaimed the autonomy that is rightfully ours. This first contract is a call to action for professionals across the video game industry. We are the creators of these experiences, and we will be the ones to establish new benchmarks for fair treatment."
The ZeniMax QA team first unionized in January 2023, following similar efforts by groups at Raven Software and Blizzard Albany. This move came after Microsoft publicly committed to a stance of labor neutrality. The path to a contract, however, faced obstacles. Last November, workers staged a one-day strike, citing stalled negotiations over remote work protections and allegations that Microsoft was outsourcing QA roles without union consultation. Then, in April, members voted overwhelmingly to authorize another strike, again raising issues related to remote work and inadequate pay.
The proposed contract is now pending ratification through a union member vote, which is scheduled to conclude by June 20.
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