Video game developers in the US and Canada have partnered with the Communication Workers of America to launch a new labor union called United Videogame Workers (UVW). 

UVW was unveiled this week at the 2025 Games Development Conference in San Francisco, and it’s the first direct-join union for North American developers—meaning it doesn’t represent a single workplace. The union is recruiting full-time employees, freelancers and other contracted professionals working in disciplines including animation, narrative, music, publishing, quality insurance and programming. 

Its first campaign is focused on addressing widespread industry layoffs that have impacted more than 25,000 positions since 2023, according to GDC’s State of the Game Industry Report 2025. UVW has developed a list of demands for employers, including advanced notice before layoffs, improved severance pay, extended health insurance, recall rights and worker control over generative AI use. 

In the longer term, UVW plans to draft a bill of rights for video game workers to address things like hiring inequality, crunch time use and healthcare for contractors. And it’s also looking to establish coalitions with unions in the tech and entertainment industries to join forces on efforts to raise standards and improve working conditions.