‘End mass layoffs now,’ video game workers demand

Union video game developers are calling out layoffs, corporate greed, and delays in bargaining first contracts at Microsoft gaming studios

REDMOND, WA (August 17, 2026) — Microsoft announced mass layoffs at XBOX in July, planning to let go more than 3,200 workers and shutter some XBOX gaming studios, with a first wave of layoffs in early September. With hundreds of union video game developers impacted by these layoffs, workers and their union, Campaign to Organize Digital Employees-Communications Workers of America (CODE-CWA), are staging joint rallies in cities across the United States and Canada to call out layoffs and corporate greed in the industry, and to demand fair first contracts across Microsoft’s gaming studios.

Videogame workers rallying at the Microsoft Redmond campus in July. Photo: CWA-UVW

Tuesday’s rallies are the latest escalation in workers’ and fans’ fight for layoff protections and accountability from Microsoft executives. From CODE-CWA:

“After an immediate press conference where XBOX workers demanded layoff protections, over 500 workers and allies rallied at studio locations across the U.S. and Canada last month. Fans of the franchise also posted on Microsoft’s official fan feedback website to call out the layoffs, garnering over 4,000 upvotes and nearly 900 comments on the XBOX Player Voice forum. On July 15th, CWA also filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleging several labor law violations that require the employer to engage in decisional bargaining over discretionary layoffs.”

Rallies are planned in California, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Texas, and Montreal. In the Seattle area, video game developers and allies will rally at Microsoft’s Redmond campus.

TAKE A STAND: Rally with video game workers on Tuesday, August 18 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Microsoft Redmond campus (15607 NE 40th St, Redmond, WA 98052 US).