Microsoft Reaches Tentative Deal With Elder Scrolls, Fallout QA Union
Over 300 unionized quality assurance testers at ZeniMax Media, responsible for testing major franchises like The Elder Scrolls and Doom, have reached a tentative agreement with Microsoft on their first contract since unionizing two years ago.
Substantial Worker Protections Secured
The deal negotiated by ZeniMax Workers United (affiliated with CWA) delivers significant upgrades including:
- Major wage increases across all positions
- Minimum salary guarantees
- Job protection from arbitrary termination
- Clear grievance procedures
- AI usage safeguards
- Proper credit recognition in game releases
The ZeniMax group includes Bethesda Softworks and powerhouse studios behind titles like Starfield, Wolfenstein, and Dishonored. Microsoft's $8.1 billion acquisition in 2021 placed these studios under Xbox Game Studios leadership.
"For years, gaming workers' passion has been taken advantage of while they deserved fair treatment," explained bargaining committee member Jessee Leese. "This contract proves collective action works - we've reclaimed our power as creators."
A Long Road to Agreement
The unionization journey saw multiple hurdles:
- January 2023: Workers officially unionized following Microsoft's labor neutrality pledge
- November 2023: One-day strike over stalled negotiations
- April 2024: Overwhelming strike authorization vote
Key sticking points included remote work protections and concerns about outsourced QA work circumventing union jobs.
The deal now faces ratification by union members, with voting concluding June 20. If approved, this could set important industry-wide precedents for game developer working conditions.
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