(NATIONWIDE) – In a historic development for Video Game Organizing, Workers across the U.S. and Canada are launching United Videogame Workers (UVW)-CWA Local 9433, a direct-join, industry-wide Video Game Union with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) in partnership with the American Federation of Musicians (AFM).

The launch will be formally announced at the 2025 Game Developer Conference in San Francisco, California - the world’s largest industry event for Video Game Professionals, where Workers will be joined by other CWA Members to launch this powerful new organization.

UVW-CWA builds off of the unprecedented mobilization following the Game Developers Conference in 2018, which served as a launching pad for the creation of Game Workers Unite, an international grassroots organization dedicated to Labor Organizing the industry.

The launch of UVW-CWA also coincides with the fifth anniversary of the CODE-CWA Campaign, which has helped more than 6,500 Tech and Video Game Workers organize to join the Union since 2020.

“The creation of this Union was not done in isolation. It’s a cumulative effort by the thousands of Video Game Workers who have been fighting for years to redefine what it means to stand together and reclaim power in one of the largest and highest-grossing industries on the globe,” said Tom Smith, who serves as CWA’s Senior Director of Organizing.

“These Workers are taking a bold stand, joining together to build power for the Workers behind the games we all know and love,” he said.

As part of the United Videogame Workers-CWA launch, Members will be gathering signatures for a petition demanding dignity and job security for all Video Game Workers, particularly those facing layoffs.

The Video Game Industry is one of the fastest-growing entertainment industries in the world, with huge revenue increases in recent years.

But across the industry, more than 10,500 jobs were lost in 2023 and an additional 14,600 jobs were lost in 2024.

According to the GDC 2025 State of the Game Industry, more than 10% of surveyed game developers reported being laid off in 2024.

More than 30 studios have laid off their entire Staff and were closed by their parent companies, including some of the largest and most profitable corporations like Microsoft and Sony Interactive Entertainment.

To Continue Reading This Organizing Labor News Report, Go To: Video Game Workers Launch Industry-Wide Union with Communications Workers of America | Communications Workers of America