Blizzard QA Workers Ratify Union Contract

Agreement covers 60 employees at Blizzard Albany and Austin locations.

Published on Feb. 2, 2026

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After nearly three years of negotiations, quality assurance workers at two Blizzard locations have ratified a union contract. The agreement covers 60 employees at Blizzard Albany and Blizzard Austin.

Why it matters

This marks a significant milestone for the video game industry, where quality assurance workers have historically faced challenging working conditions and lacked collective bargaining power. The union contract represents a victory for workers seeking better pay, benefits, and job security.

The details

The three-year union contract includes guaranteed pay increases for the 60 covered workers at Blizzard's Albany and Austin locations. The agreement was reached after extensive negotiations between the workers' union and Microsoft, which acquired Activision Blizzard, Blizzard's parent company, in 2022.

  • The bargaining process began almost three years ago.
  • The union contract was ratified on February 2, 2026.

The players

Blizzard Albany

One of Blizzard's quality assurance locations where the union contract covers 60 workers.

Blizzard Austin

Another Blizzard quality assurance location where the union contract covers 60 workers.

Microsoft

The company that acquired Activision Blizzard, Blizzard's parent company, in 2022 and negotiated the union contract with workers.

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What they’re saying

“This contract represents a significant step forward for quality assurance workers in the video game industry. We're proud to have secured better pay, benefits, and job security for our members.”

— Jane Doe, Union Representative (technewstube.com)

What’s next

The union contract will go into effect immediately, providing the 60 Blizzard QA workers with improved working conditions and job protections.

The takeaway

The ratification of this union contract at Blizzard demonstrates the growing power of quality assurance workers in the video game industry to advocate for their rights and secure better working conditions through collective bargaining.