MTG Arena developers say profitable teams still faced layoffs and uncertainty
Workers at Wizards of the Coast have launched a unionization effort amid concerns about forced relocation and job security. The Magic: The Gathering Arena development team, hired with promises of remote work flexibility, now faces potential relocation to Washington state—effectively threatening employment for those who decline.
On April 27, a supermajority of the Arena team initiated a union campaign under the banner United Wizards of the Coast, partnering with the Communications Workers of America. The group called on Wizards of the Coast and parent company Hasbro to voluntarily recognize the union by May 1.
The company declined and instead pursued a formal National Labor Relations Board election process, scheduled for June 2. Despite the profitable status of the Arena team, workers report facing uncertainty about their futures alongside threats of layoffs and relocation mandates. This situation highlights broader tensions in the gaming industry between developer expectations and corporate demands, particularly regarding the remote-first hiring practices many studios adopted during and after the pandemic.