Double Fine Productions workers have filed to form a union with the Communications Workers of America, putting another Microsoft-owned game studio into the growing list of organized teams across Xbox.
The National Labor Relations Board case page for Double Fine Productions Inc. shows the petition was filed on May 7. The proposed unit covers 42 employees in San Francisco, including all regular part-time and full-time employees. The case is currently listed as open.
Double Fine is best known for Psychonauts and Psychonauts 2, and recently revealed Kiln, a multiplayer action game about animated pots. The new filing makes the studio the latest Xbox team to pursue CWA representation as labor organizing continues across Microsoft Gaming.
The proposed union covers 42 Double Fine workers
The NLRB listing says supervisors, guards, office clericals and other employees outside the described unit are excluded. CWA is named as the petitioner union, while Double Fine Productions is named as the employer.
CWA also confirmed the organizing push in a statement given to Aftermath, saying Double Fine workers announced their decision on May 7 and had requested voluntary recognition from the company while also filing with the NLRB.
"On May 7, the workers at Microsoft studio Double Fine Productions announced their decision to form a union with CWA to preserve and extend the studio's commitments to creative excellence, diversity and inclusion, and worker quality of life," CWA said. "In tandem with requesting voluntary recognition from the company, workers have also filed an election petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to secure union representation. We appreciate that Microsoft has taken a neutral approach and agreed not to interfere in any way with worker's rights to organize unions."
That last point is a major part of the Xbox labor story. Microsoft and CWA announced a labor neutrality agreement in 2022 tied to Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition, with Microsoft saying covered workers would be able to make a choice about union representation without company opposition.
Microsoft gaming unions keep expanding
Double Fine's filing follows other Microsoft-owned game teams that have organized with CWA, including id Software and ZeniMax workers. The ZeniMax unit later reached a contract with Microsoft that included wage increases and a credits policy for QA staff.
The Double Fine petition does not mean a contract is already in place. It starts the formal representation process through the NLRB unless Microsoft voluntarily recognizes the union first.
Still, the filing is another sign that union activity inside major game companies has moved from isolated wins to a continuing workplace issue across the industry. At Double Fine, the immediate question is whether Microsoft recognizes the proposed unit and how quickly workers can move from representation to bargaining.