The development team of Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft (WoW) announced Wednesday the formation of a new union. According to the Communications Workers of America (CWA), over 500 members of the WoW development team have joined the union, which has been recognized by both Microsoft and Blizzard. The official name of the new union is the World of Warcraft Game Makers Guild (WoWGG-CWA).

Eric Lanham, a test analyst and member of the union, stated, "What we have achieved in WoW is just the beginning. We are embarking on a quest for better pay, benefits, and job security. We know that having protected employee voices is beneficial for employees, studios, and the WoW fans who seek the best gaming experience. Through our union, we are ready to overcome any obstacles, heal all wounds, and tackle future challenges head-on."

Tom Smith, the lead organizing director of CWA, emphasized the significance of this move, saying, "The decision by WoW workers to form a union marks a pivotal moment in the broader movement within the video game industry. From AAA studios like SEGA and Bethesda to indie developers, this highlights the growing power of worker solidarity across the industry."

Meanwhile, a Microsoft spokesperson expressed support for the union's formation, stating, "We continue to support our employees' right to choose how to represent themselves in the workplace and will engage in good-faith negotiations with the CWA to reach a collective bargaining agreement."

The CWA also commented on the victory, saying, "This win demonstrates the expanding efforts to organize workers in the video game industry. We hope it inspires other video game workers to form unions and raise the industry's standards for wages, benefits, and respect for worker rights."