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Gamerant
Double Fine Employees Are Planning to Unionize
On May 7, Double Fine, a Microsoft subsidiary studio founded by Tim Schafer, filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to unionize. The proposed bargaining unit includes 42 part-time and full-time employees. Double Fine is organizing with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). Microsoft has agreed to maintain a neutral stance on the unionization effort, despite the expiration of a previous neutrality agreement. This is the first union formed under new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, who took over in 2026. The move adds to a growing trend of unionization at Microsoft-owned studios, following the Diablo team's 2025 wall-to-wall union and the World of Warcraft Gamemaker's Guild in 2024. The union aims to preserve creative excellence, diversity, and worker quality of life. The case remains open, and further negotiations are pending.
MonitorConfidence: HighImmediate horizon
Published 11 May 2026, 00:00 UTC3 min read
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Summary
TL;DR
- Double Fine files union petition with NLRB for 42 employees.
- Petition filed on May 7, with cooperation from the CWA.
- Microsoft agrees to maintain neutrality despite expired agreement.
- First union under new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma.
- Follows unionizations at Raven Software, Diablo team, and World of Warcraft.
- Union aims to preserve creative excellence, diversity, and quality of life.
- Case still open; negotiation timeline unclear.
Interesting facts
- Double Fine is the first studio to unionize under Asha Sharma's leadership.