Developer id Software, known for the Doom series, has formed a wall-to-wall union with the Communications Workers of America, which Microsoft has recognized. The 165-employee studio in Richardson, Texas, aims to protect workers from AI implementation and secure benefits like remote work. This move follows a wave of labor organizing across Microsoft-owned studios amid industry instability.
Union Formation Details
On December 12, 2025, id Software announced its unionization under the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 6215. The wall-to-wall union includes 165 non-managerial employees, such as developers, artists, and programmers, based in Richardson, Texas. Microsoft, which acquired the studio through its $8 billion purchase of ZeniMax Media in 2021, has officially recognized the union. This marks id Software as the latest Microsoft gaming team to organize, bringing the total number of union-represented workers at the company to nearly 4,000.
The effort builds on earlier organizing at the studio, where the QA team unionized a couple of years ago. It also follows Bethesda Game Studios securing its first collective bargaining contract with Microsoft earlier in 2025, setting standards for pay, remote work, and severance. id Software, founded in 1991 by John Carmack, John Romero, Tom Hall, and Adrian Carmack, revolutionized gaming with titles like Wolfenstein 3D (1992) and Doom (1993). The studio recently shipped Doom: The Dark Ages, which won for best accessibility options at The Game Awards 2025.
Key Goals and Quotes
The union seeks protections against the rapid adoption of AI, better health benefits, and expanded remote work options. Producer Andrew Willis, an organizing committee member, emphasized the need for unity: "The wall-to-wall organizing effort at id Software was much needed; it's incredibly important that developers across the industry unite to push back on all the unilateral workplace changes that are being handed down from industry executives. The union is a way for us, the developers, to take back control of the industry we love and to ensure that it delivers high-quality products from high-quality workers who have health benefits and longevity beyond quarterly profits."
Senior VFX artist Caroline Pierrot added: "I'm very proud to be a part of this effort to organize our studio, to have a voice in decisions that directly affect myself and my coworkers. In an industry that has proven to be very unstable over the last few years, more unions means more power to the workers and a real shot at shaping the future of the industry for the better."
Software lead services programmer Chris Hays highlighted remote work as a necessity: "Remote work isn't a perk, but rather a necessity for our health, our families, and our access needs." Willis noted Microsoft's push for AI use but expressed concerns over its careful implementation to benefit game development.
Broader Context
This unionization comes amid widespread layoffs and studio closures in the gaming industry, including at Microsoft. On December 11, 2025, members of the United Videogame Workers-CWA demonstrated outside The Game Awards to protest canceled games and job losses. Organizers believe stronger unions will retain experienced developers and improve decision-making, countering influences from executives without game development backgrounds.
