Heart Machine Recognizes Staff Union in Landmark Move for Game Development Studio
Indie game developer Heart Machine has announced its voluntary recognition of a new union formed by its employees, marking a significant milestone in the studio’s labor relations. The union, which encompasses all staff at the Hyper Light Drifter studio, was acknowledged through a post on the Communications Workers of America (CWA) website. According to reports from The Hollywood Reporter, this bargaining unit includes 13 members.
The unionization effort began in February when staff approached management to express their desire to organize and subsequently requested voluntary recognition. Steph Aligbe, a gameplay tools engineer and member of CWA Local 9003, articulated the motivation behind the initiative. “I decided to get involved in organizing my studio because I’ve seen many peers in the industry standing up to help protect the craft we all care so deeply about. Witnessing this momentum inspired me to act, particularly in these challenging times,” Aligbe stated.
The emerging union at Heart Machine heralds a positive step towards establishing a workplace that prioritizes employee welfare. Aligbe expressed pride in the studio’s decision to voluntarily recognize the union, emphasizing their commitment to high labor standards. “We look forward to negotiating our first contract, which will play a crucial role in safeguarding our workplace environment,” she added.
Moreover, Aligbe highlighted the evolving challenges within the gaming industry: “There are fewer opportunities to create games in the traditional sense, and the media landscape is increasingly crowded, competing for audiences’ attention. To craft something truly exceptional, teams must be afforded the time, care, and creativity to collaborate effectively.”
This development comes in the wake of recent layoffs at Heart Machine. The studio has experienced three separate rounds of workforce reductions, including a notable layoff in 2024, which affected an undisclosed number of employees. A second wave of dismissals occurred 13 months later, shortly before the release of Possessor(s), a game published by Devolver Digital.
The formation of a union at Heart Machine follows the CWA’s efforts to assist approximately 4,000 workers in unionizing across various Microsoft-owned studios, such as Id Software, Bethesda, and Blizzard. This trend reflects a growing movement within the game development sector toward establishing stronger labor protections and advocating for employees’ rights.
Source: Original Source
