Double Fine petitions to unionize
Double Fine Productions, the Microsoft-owned studio behind Psychonauts and the recently released Kiln, has filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to unionize. The petition was filed on May 7 in conjunction with the Communications Workers of America (CWA), covering approximately 42 part-time and full-time employees at the studio.
The workers are seeking unionization to “preserve and extend the studio’s commitments to creative excellence, diversity and inclusion, and worker quality of life,” according to a CWA statement. Beyond requesting voluntary recognition from Microsoft, the workers have formally filed an election petition with the NLRB to establish the union.
Double Fine becomes the latest Microsoft-owned gaming studio to pursue unionization, reflecting a broader trend of union organizing efforts across the video game industry. Microsoft has maintained a neutral position regarding the union effort. The petition will now proceed through the NLRB’s formal process for evaluating union recognition and conducting employee elections when necessary.