A majority group of Magic: The Gathering Arena developers announced their intention to form a union with the Communications Workers of America, the first organizing effort at Wizards of the Coast. Workers seek to counter negative industry trends through collective bargaining, demanding protections against layoffs, remote work guarantees, limits on generative AI, and pay equity. They gave management until the weekend to voluntarily recognize the union. 🃏
Collective bargaining to curb AI and crunch in Arena ⚔️
Developers seek to include specific clauses limiting the use of generative artificial intelligence in the development of the Unity client, preventing it from replacing programming and card design tasks. They also demand caps on mandatory overtime during expansion launches, such as Thunder Junction, and remote work guarantees to maintain the stability of the graphics engine. The petition to the NLRB includes periodic salary audits and a workplace safety committee, noting that at-will employment in the US is a central concern.
Wizards responds: we received it, we're reviewing it, we'll see 🤷
Wizards of the Coast responded that they received the request and are carefully reviewing it, reaffirming their commitment to a workplace where everyone feels heard and valued. In other words, the classic corporate response that sounds like a Common card: plain text, no effects, and a high mana cost. Developers hope the review doesn't last as long as a six-hour Commander game.