Bethesda Employees Strike Over Remote Work and Outsourcing Policies

This year in the gaming industry has been far from ideal. January started with waves of layoffs at major companies, including Xbox, Take-Two, and even PlayStation, where several employees at Bungie were let go under unclear circumstances. While the early months of the year were turbulent, many hoped for a more stable end to 2024. However, the industry is facing yet another disruption—this time, stemming from employee discontent within a major studio.

Unionized Workers Demand Change

Hundreds of Bethesda employees have reportedly gone on a one-day strike to protest remote work rights and outsourcing policies they say Microsoft has failed to address. The Maryland and Texas workers, who are part of the second-largest video game union in the U.S., made up of more than 300 quality assurance workers, are seeking a hearing from the company and a commitment to improving working conditions.

This conflict has deeper roots, as the union, which was formed in January 2023, says the grievance originated in October when employees filed a formal unfair labor practices complaint against ZeniMax, Bethesda’s parent company. The workers say they are required to come into the office twice a week, but their requests for remote work are often denied. They are also seeking to reduce the proportion of subcontracted quality control staff so that they can better protect the employment of full-time workers in their bargaining unit.

Microsoft’s Acquisition of Activision Blizzard

The situation comes at a time of change following Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2022, a deal that fetched $69 billion. Since that historic acquisition, however, Xbox has carried out massive layoffs, eliminating more than 2,500 jobs and closing several development studios, including part of the Bethesda team.

The workers hope that the strike will increase pressure on Microsoft to review and adapt its policies to the union’s demands. They are seeking agreements that allow for better working conditions while promoting a commitment to fairer practices in the video game industry.