Workers at id Software, the legendary studio behind DOOM and Quake and now part of Xbox’s first-party portfolio, have voted to unionize in a move that underscores growing labor organizing across the games industry. The new union reportedly includes around 165 employees covering a broad “wall-to-wall” group of developers, artists, QA staff, designers, and other roles at the Texas-based studio.
The group is organizing under the Communications Workers of America through its CODE-CWA initiative, which has become a central player in recent game industry union drives. Microsoft is said to have recognized the unit after the vote, continuing its publicly stated stance of remaining neutral in organizing efforts across its studios.
This development follows a difficult year for Xbox and its studios, including widespread layoffs that affected multiple teams. For id Software employees, unionization is framed as a way to secure more stability, stronger benefits, and a real say in future changes affecting their work. Organizers have also highlighted concerns around rapid shifts in technology and tooling, including the use of AI, and what that could mean for job security and studio culture.
Id Software’s union joins a growing list of organized groups under Microsoft Gaming, adding to the momentum of labor activity at major publishers. For the broader industry, the move is another signal that workers at high-profile studios are increasingly willing to pursue collective bargaining as a way to shape their working conditions and the future of their franchises.
