Unionisation in the Videogame Industry

Carl is pro-union

- Carl Mcfadyen

The gaming industry needs unionisation, that statement is not at all controversial and it's likely that most people who are involved in the industry would agree. In light of this, why is it that the majority of the workers in this industry continue to be treated awfully and unions are only now starting to get off the ground?

For years those in and around the gaming industry have been well aware of the infamous crunch culture that underpins the development of most, if not all AAA games. Crunch is detrimental to those that participate in it, with developers blaming it for causing damage to their health and relationships. Sadly, crunch has largely become an accepted part of the industry, something necessary to create the dense and beautiful virtual worlds that we as players have come to expect. This problem alone should have been enough to push the industry towards forming workers' unions that would protect the wellbeing of those creating the games.