Video game developers union membership in UK soars after thousands laid off




In a stark turn of events for the video game industry, mass redundancies have prompted an unprecedented surge in workers joining unions, according to organizers from the Game Workers branch of the IWGB union. The sector, dominated by renowned studios behind blockbuster titles like Fifa, Skyrim, and The Witcher, witnessed a record increase in union membership as thousands of developers faced job cuts.

Between December 2022 and December 2023, the Game Workers branch observed a nearly 50% rise in its membership, driven by worsening job cuts within the industry. October 2023 alone saw a 12% spike, coinciding with Epic, the developer of Fortnite, announcing significant layoffs, citing financial challenges.

A recent industry-wide poll revealed that 35% of developers surveyed reported being directly affected or knew colleagues impacted by the job cuts. The UK, boasting Europe's largest video game workforce contributing £5 billion annually to its economy, has been hit hard as studios worldwide implement cutbacks to offset the post-pandemic slump, economic downturn, and inflation.

Globally, estimates suggest that at least 10,500 staff lost their jobs in the video game industry in the previous year. Electronic Arts (EA), Bethesda, Activision Blizzard, and CD Projekt RED are among the major players that faced substantial workforce reductions. The UK alone accounted for around 900 of the 11,100 reported job losses, as per Ukie, the UK's primary video games industry body.

The IWGB Game Workers branch, formed five years ago to address concerns about precarious working conditions, sexism, and excessive overtime ("crunch"), has experienced an overwhelming influx of new members in the wake of recent layoffs. The current wave of job losses, affecting at least 17 studios, indicates a challenging period ahead for the industry.

Notably, Unity, a key player in video game software, announced plans to cut 25% of its workforce, affecting around 1,800 employees. The pace of redundancies shows little sign of slowing, raising concerns among industry professionals.

Austin Kelmore, chair of the IWGB Game Workers branch, expressed the impact of the job losses, stating, "It's felt like a deluge of redundancies in the past five or six months. It just keeps coming and coming."

Ukie co-CEO Daniel Wood acknowledged the challenges faced by the sector, attributing the job losses to a necessary rebalancing following years of significant growth during the pandemic. Wood urged the government to create conditions conducive to the growth of games businesses, emphasizing the importance of supporting the industry in the upcoming budget.

As the video game industry grapples with unprecedented shifts and challenges, the rise in union memberships reflects a collective effort among workers to address job security, working conditions, and the future sustainability of the sector.