Candy Crush maker King has declined staff’s collective bargaining agreement
King, the Microsoft-owned developer behind Candy Crush, has declined a collective bargaining agreement with Swedish trade unions Unionen and Sveriges Ingenjörer following approximately one year of negotiations.
The decision was communicated via internal email by King president Todd Green in June. Green stated the rejection was not made lightly and outlined two key reasons for declining the agreement.
First, King argued that its existing benefits package surpasses what the proposed CBA would provide. The company emphasized its current offerings in long-term sick pay, parental leave, private health insurance, and enhanced pension benefits—claiming these already meet or exceed what unionization would secure.
Second, the company asserted that its current operating model better serves organizational needs and employee interests than a formalized union structure would provide.
This decision reflects ongoing tension within the gaming industry over labor representation. While unionization efforts have gained momentum globally—with some studios successfully reaching agreements with worker organizations—other major companies have resisted formal collective bargaining. King’s rejection continues this pattern, suggesting the studio believes its existing compensation and workplace structure are sufficient without external union involvement.