WoW unionization is proof that Microsoft merger might save Blizzard

World of Warcraft (WoW) developers formed a "wall to wall" union recently, and it seems to be proof that the Microsoft merger will be a healthy change for Blizzard. It's no secret that the relationship between Activision and Blizzard has been turbulent. Most fans have been cautiously optimistic about the recent merger, hoping that it will bring new life to the faltering developer.

Almost immediately after Activision aquired Blizzard in 2008, the cracks began to show. Some of Blizzard's most devoted fans became concerned as soon as 2013, when World of Warcraft had its in-game shop introduced.

Since then, Blizzard has seen increasingly damaging issues, such as developer turnover, decline in content quality, and the infamous harrasment lawsuits. Though it's surely unfair to place all of the blame on Activision for these problems, it would be disingenuous to not acknowledge their contribution to them.

Here, we're going to discuss how the Microsoft-Blizzard merger may be proof of a hopeful future for the long suffering developer.

Note: Parts of this article are subjective and solely reflect the writer's opinions

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WoW developers allowed to unionize under Microsoft management

WoW's developers are successfully forming a union for the first time (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)

This is not the first time that Blizzard developers have attempted to unionize, but it is the first time it has seen support and success.

In 2022 and 2023, Blizzard employees began attempts to unionize under Activision and the now infamous Bobby Kotick. Unfortunately, this did not just go poorly; it strayed into the realm of Activision reportedly violating laws and workers rights. Activision's alleged meddling into workers' attempts to unionize became so severe that a US labor labor agency claimed that the company had violated federal laws.

During this already tumultous time for Blizzard's reputation, there could have truly been nothing worse than news of these developments. Activision management had reportedly been illegaly spying on employees and threatening to shut down their channels of communication.

The sentiment at the time was that this was a brazen attempt to quash employees' ability to demand fair treatment. After the stories that previouslt came out about the treatment of developers, this erased any hope fans had in Blizzard's ability to exist healthily.

Activision faced legal action under Bobby Kotick for its union-busting (Image via Activision)

With news of the Microsoft merger, however, many fans had reason to believe there was a new hope for Blizzard. Though many have been trepidatious about placing their faith in the company, some believe Activision was the brunt of the issues. The news of WoW's succesful unionization seems to point to the latter, suggesting that better management could be key to revitalizing Blizzard.

Though this is a very new development, Microsoft's initial reaction is undoubtedly better than Activision's was. There's no telling how this uninonization will pan out for Blizzard going forward, but it's a good omen for those hoping to see a rebirth of the gaming giant.