According to a recent press release from Communications Workers of America (CWA), the Quality Assurance workers at Raven Software, of Activision Blizzard, have decided to unionize with their organization. The statement comes on the heels of the nearly $70 billion deal of Microsoft acquiring Activision Blizzard that was announced last Tuesday.CWA@CWAUnionToday workers at @RavenSoftware launched @WeAreGWA with CWA!Solidarity with #GWAUnion! twitter.com/WeAreGWA/statu…Game Workers Alliance 💙#WeAreGWA@WeAreGWAOur Principles: -Solidarity: The voices of workers should be heard by leadership. By uniting in solidarity, we can ensure our message is further reaching, and more effective. (1/8)9:41 AM · Jan 21, 20229935Our Principles: -Solidarity: The voices of workers should be heard by leadership. By uniting in solidarity, we can ensure our message is further reaching, and more effective. (1/8)Today workers at @RavenSoftware launched @WeAreGWA with CWA!Solidarity with #GWAUnion! twitter.com/WeAreGWA/statu…Raven Software and Activision employees have been embroiled in strikes and walkouts in the past year - protesting against the work environment that was perpetrated at their company. The most recent walkout in December was done against the termination of the contracts of 12 QA testers. The latter took place on December 3.ABetterABK 💙 ABK Workers Alliance@ABetterABKToday workers from Raven QA are walking out for the second day in a row. They are joined by workers from QATX, QAMN, and Blizzard QA. These workers are standing in solidarity with the statement Raven QA put forward yesterday. They are using the social media hashtag #WeAreRaven8:50 AM · Dec 7, 20211196405Today workers from Raven QA are walking out for the second day in a row. They are joined by workers from QATX, QAMN, and Blizzard QA. These workers are standing in solidarity with the statement Raven QA put forward yesterday. They are using the social media hashtag #WeAreRavenUsing the hashtag #WeAreRaven, they have been joined in solidarity by workers from QATX, QAMN, and Blizzard QA. According to renowned journalist Jason Schreier, their move to unionize "marks the first-ever union in the big-budget video game industry in North America."Jason Schreier@jasonschreierSorry, I should clarify: first-ever union in the big-budget video game industry *in North America*.9:31 AM · Jan 21, 20223658193Sorry, I should clarify: first-ever union in the big-budget video game industry *in North America*.The ongoing strike by QA testers of Raven Software, a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, results in them unionizingThe group of workers, identifying as the Game Workers Alliance, holds a "supermajority," according to Becka Aigner - one of the QA testers, of Raven Software. The QA workers team has a total number of 34 members. The studio is famous for helping create the Call of Duty games under the Activision banner.Game Workers Alliance 💙#WeAreGWA@WeAreGWAWe are proud to join CWA! twitter.com/cwaunion/statu…CWA@CWAUnion“We formed @WeAreGWA because my colleagues and I want to have our voices heard and we want to see changes that reflect the wants and needs of both the gaming community and the workers who create these incredible products.” - Brent Reel, QA Lead at Raven.cwa-union.org/news/releases/…10:17 AM · Jan 21, 202211925“We formed @WeAreGWA because my colleagues and I want to have our voices heard and we want to see changes that reflect the wants and needs of both the gaming community and the workers who create these incredible products.” - Brent Reel, QA Lead at Raven.cwa-union.org/news/releases/…We are proud to join CWA! twitter.com/cwaunion/statu… https://t.co/hKGFhyhLusThe group of workers have asked the parent company to voluntarily recognize this decision, which at the moment seems like an unlikely scenario. If Activision Blizzard refuses any such recognition, they would have to "force a vote among employees, which would be overseen by the National Labor Relations Board," according to The New York Times report on the matter.Richard Hoeg@HoegLawThis headline is better than Polygon's, but the word "vote" isn't quite accurate. Cards have been collected expressing interest/desire. Votes would come in an election. twitter.com/GIBiz/status/1…GamesIndustry@GIBiz78% of Raven Software testers vote to form union, ask Activision Blizzard to voluntarily recognize a group of 34 membersgamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-…9:56 AM · Jan 21, 202219178% of Raven Software testers vote to form union, ask Activision Blizzard to voluntarily recognize a group of 34 membersgamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-…This headline is better than Polygon's, but the word "vote" isn't quite accurate. Cards have been collected expressing interest/desire. Votes would come in an election. twitter.com/GIBiz/status/1…Jason Schreier@jasonschreierThe California Department of Fair Employment and Housing has filed an explosive lawsuit against Activision Blizzard for discrimination. Some of the details in the complaint are horrifying news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-re…5:52 AM · Jul 22, 20215877220157The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing has filed an explosive lawsuit against Activision Blizzard for discrimination. Some of the details in the complaint are horrifying news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-re… https://t.co/dRuP8HPyqeJason Schreier@jasonschreierAn Activision Blizzard spokesman sent me a lengthy statement calling the allegations "distorted, and in many cases false" and referring to the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing as "unaccountable State bureaucrats."6:50 AM · Jul 22, 202191981065An Activision Blizzard spokesman sent me a lengthy statement calling the allegations "distorted, and in many cases false" and referring to the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing as "unaccountable State bureaucrats." https://t.co/L9RINw0uZ9Activision Blizzard has been riddled with allegations and accusations of a hostile and inappropriate work environment. In light of said allegations, the company faces investigations and lawsuits from the authorities. With growing unrest and no end in sight, the video game giants have found themselves justifiably called out and shunned.Rep. Nadler@RepJerryNadlerActivision Blizzard — already a gaming giant — has a pattern of bullying workers to evade accountability for rampant sexual misconduct. I expect this deal to be closely scrutinized to ensure that it won't harm American workers or competition. dotesports.com/business/news/…12:03 PM · Jan 21, 20221902326Activision Blizzard — already a gaming giant — has a pattern of bullying workers to evade accountability for rampant sexual misconduct. I expect this deal to be closely scrutinized to ensure that it won't harm American workers or competition. dotesports.com/business/news/…According to many, the deal with Microsoft is a way out for the company to not be held accountable for the environment they have fostered. Microsoft has assured that they will be working hard to create a fair and just workplace, but for now, Bobby Kotick will remain as Activision Blizzard CEO until the transition of the deal is complete.Satya Nadella@satyanadellaTogether with @ATVI_AB, we will usher in a new era of gaming that puts players and creators first and makes gaming safe, inclusive, and accessible to all. news.microsoft.com/?p=4449877:01 AM · Jan 18, 2022152402468Together with @ATVI_AB, we will usher in a new era of gaming that puts players and creators first and makes gaming safe, inclusive, and accessible to all. news.microsoft.com/?p=444987The move to unionize by the QA testers of Raven Software will send ripples across the video game industry that has often been accused of underpaying and overworking their employees whilst sustaining an uncomfortable and hostile workplace culture. The recent movements of workers uniting, and even unionizing, offer a glimmer of hope against this.