According to GameSpot, developer id Software, the legendary Texas-based studio behind the Doom franchise, has formed a union with the Communications Workers of America. The “wall-to-wall” guild covers all 165 employees at the Richardson, Texas studio, which is currently working on the recently announced Doom: The Dark Ages. Key organizers include producer Andrew Willis, senior VFX artist Caroline Pierrot, and lead services programmer Chris Hays. Microsoft, which owns id Software parent company ZeniMax, has officially recognized the union. The union’s stated goals are to secure protections against the irresponsible use of AI, establish remote work as a core benefit, and ensure developers have a voice in major studio decisions.
A Real Shot at Shaping the Future
This isn’t just about better healthcare or a few extra vacation days. Listen to the quotes from the organizers—they’re talking about taking back control of an industry they feel is being steered off a cliff by people who don’t understand games. Andrew Willis pointedly called out “Ivy League MBAs” with “zero experience in actually making games.” That’s a damning, and frankly, relatable critique for anyone who’s watched the industry’s recent layoff spiral. The union is their tool to push back against what they see as unilateral, top-down decisions that prioritize quarterly profits over sustainable game development and worker well-being. They’re framing this as a fight for the soul of the craft itself.
The AI and Remote Work Battle Lines
Here’s where it gets really concrete. The union is zeroing in on two massive, industry-defining issues: AI and remote work. Chris Hays explicitly said remote work “isn’t a perk,” but a “necessity.” That’s a fundamental reframing that challenges the current return-to-office push across tech. Even more telling is the tension with Microsoft. Willis confirmed there’s “definitely a directive from Microsoft to use [AI] more,” but he doubts it’s being implemented carefully enough to actually benefit game creation. So you have workers essentially saying, “We’ll use the tools, but we need a seat at the table to ensure they’re used responsibly and don’t degrade our jobs or the product.” That’s a huge deal. It’s one of the first major, organized efforts by game developers to set boundaries around AI, not just react to it.
What This Means For The Industry
Look, id Software isn’t just any studio. It’s a pillar of the FPS genre, a legendary name owned by one of the biggest tech companies on the planet. If Microsoft—a company that has, let’s be honest, had a mixed history with unions—is recognizing this guild, it sends a powerful signal. It suggests that collective bargaining is becoming a normalized, unavoidable part of the AAA games business. As Willis said, he believes more unions will help keep experienced developers in the industry. After a year of brutal cuts, that’s a compelling argument. This could very well be the catalyst that pushes other major studios under the Microsoft umbrella, or beyond, to organize. The dam might finally be breaking.
Beyond the Headlines
So what’s next? The hard work of actually negotiating that first contract. The priorities are clear: codifying AI protections, securing remote work options, and improving benefits. But the subtext is all about power and longevity. It’s about whether the people who make the games get to have a lasting career doing it, or if they’re just disposable assets in a volatile hit-driven machine. This move by id Software, detailed further in reports from Aftermath and announced by the CWA, feels like a turning point. It’s a bet that collective action is the only way to build a stable, humane, and creatively sound future for game development. And honestly? They’re probably right.
