The workers behind digital card game adaptation Magic: The Gathering Arena have officially formed a union under the Communication Workers of America, with a recent vote reportedly passing 79-16.
As shared by the team in a congratulatory post, the win means the union will now be empowered to fight for better workplace protections for everyone on the team.
‘Today is a momentous day for the workers of Arena!’ the group said on its website. ‘After months of planning, waiting and organising, our dream is finally a reality; the votes have been counted, and our union of UWOTC-CWA has been officially elected.
‘From this day forward, we have a union!
‘We stand on the shoulders of giants, and we can only hope that our victory in turn inspires others to start unionising at their own workplaces. Change is possible when workers stand together!’
Magic: The Gathering Arena union – quick links
What the Magic: The Gathering Arena union is fighting for
As shared in its initial formation post, the Magic: The Gathering Arena union, also known as United Wizards of the Coast, was established to better protect all workers during a time of ongoing instability.
The idea for the union was reportedly gestating for several years, with workers first discussing the possibility following back-to-back layoffs at Wizards of the Coast parent company Hasbro in 2023 and 2025 (via Kotaku).
As well as layoffs, the union was reportedly inspired by ‘return to office’ mandates that were allegedly ‘confusing or inconsistent’, as well as factors including alleged pressure to adopt LLM and generative AI tools, some alleged experiences of crunch working conditions, and a desire for better-defined career progression.
Following the announcement of this union formation, Wizards of the Coast reportedly declined to voluntarily recognise it, instead telling media that it was reviewing the proposal carefully, with a view to foster a workplace where ‘every person feels heard’.
‘We believe we have a strong connection with everyone at Wizards of the Coast and that direct relationship with our employees is essential to how we work together to capture the imagination of our fans and players, inspiring a lifetime love of our games,’ the organisation told Kotaku at the time.
With the union now formed, Wizards of the Coast will have the opportunity to interface directly with newly-appointed union team leaders, who will advocate on behalf of the combined workers group.
What’s next for United Wizards of the Coast?
As previously shared in the union’s manifesto, United Wizards of the Coast will now work towards a ratified contract which will comprise all of the key protections requested.
This will then be presented to leaders at Wizards of the Coast for negotiation.
‘At Wizards, we’re organising for a say in layoffs, accountability that runs up and down the chain, and a living wage that actually lets people build a life,’ UWOTC-CWA member Damien Wilson, a Senior Software Development Engineer for Magic: The Gathering Arena, said in April.
‘This isn’t just something that affects Wizards of the Coast; it’s how most American workplaces are set up: investor profit above all, even if it hurts those behind the products we all know and love. Unions are the missing counterweight to protect our craft.’
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With this announcement, United Wizards of the Coast becomes just the latest games union to form under the CWA. Union movement has gained rapid pace over the last few years, driven by harsher economic circumstances, and waves of layoffs in creative industries impacting workers at all levels.
The UWOTC-CWA join unions at companies including Activision Blizzard, Sega of America, ZeniMax, Bethesda, CD Projekt Red, Keywords Studios, TCGplayer, and elsewhere.
