United Videogame Workers-CWA

We are UVW-CWA, an industry-wide union working to build an industry that works for us. ✊🏽✊🏿✊🏼✊🏾 Affiliated with @CWAUnion and @CODE_CWA.

[United Videogame Workers-CWA @vgworkers]

https://t.co/NsHkNUFt4d

[Emma Kinema ⭐ @EmmaKinema]

So proud to have worked with so many amazing game worker organizers from so many orgs (especially @vgworkers @CWAUnion) to spin up the new Game Workers Conference!

All content is freely available online and Day 1 is happening live RIGHT NOW!

[AFL-CIO ✊ @AFLCIO]

Oh we know! What is “American Federation of Labor?”

Thank you to Jeopardy!, which had an entire category last night about union history. The AFL and CIO unified in 1955 to build even more worker power across the country, and we’ve never looked back since ✊

[Alphabet Workers Union (AWU-CWA) @AlphabetWorkers]

What's disgusting? Union busting! AWU members in NYC came out to Brooklyn Borough Hall last Friday to rally against retaliation with our fellow unionized tech workers @ksr_united! Since workers won their strike last year, Kickstarter has fired FOUR union leaders in retaliation.

[Liz Shuler @LizShuler]

There’s real magic when workers come together. More than 100 workers at Wizards of the Coast are organizing with @cwaunion for protections around layoffs, remote work, AI and fair career paths. The people behind the games we love deserve a real voice at the table.

[Allison Perry #StandWithAnimation @allisonperryart]

a better industry (and economy for that matter) happens through organizing, unionization, and seizing the means of production - could indie animation play a role in that? maybe, but have I seen evidence of that materially being the intention? not really

[ProPublica Guild @propublicaguild]

1/ Management at @propublica is refusing to agree to fair contract language around artificial intelligence usage, so @newsguild President Jon Schleuss wrote to them today to urge them to get on the right side of history.
https://t.co/RcnmSmw8ul

[Nic0le @nicole_clash]

Yesterday was my last day at Riot Games.

It’s been 3 years since I dropped out and joined the company. And despite the way my relationship with Riot ended, this has been the best learning experience I could have asked for. I had the chance to work with an amazing, passionate group of people, and count it among my many blessings.

I was fired. I did not leave, and I was not laid off. I’m not going to come on here and pretend otherwise. They flat out fired me, and offered me 15k to keep my mouth shut. Needless to say, I did not take them up on that.

The official reason for my termination that I was given was about an Applied AI pitch deck I made. I had put it up as a website with a password protection on it before sharing the site with our execs. They are claiming that I broke confidentiality. While I highly doubt that this was the real reason, I’m not gonna open myself up to libel by saying here what I believe the real reason to be.

There has been no proof that anyone outside of Riot has seen the pitch deck, and that the security measures I’ve taken were not enough. What is more absurd, however, is that our CEO and various other execs have read it, told me how much they enjoyed reading it, and further encouraged me to explore the concepts I’ve outlined in the deck. Zero mention of needing me to take it down.

If this was the decision of a random middle manager up my chain of command, I would have found that a lot easier to accept. What broke me though was the fact that an exec who I viewed as a role model, one of two people that I shared the deck with originally, who explicitly told me to share it out further, he knew about my termination ahead of time. And he did nothing to stop it.

I was sad. Then I was pissed. Then I was sad and pissed. Now though, all I feel is an overwhelming sense of freedom. Normally, posting something like this is a big no no, since it will kill your chances of ever working in corporate. Luckily for me, I have made the decision that I will never work corporate again. Riot, if you’re reading this, I have also made the decision to not legally pursue the case of wrongful termination. We’re cool.

I’m taking today off. Tomorrow is my first day as an entrepreneur. This is a step that I’ve thought about taking for a while now, but could never bring myself to leave Riot for. In a twisted way, I’m grateful the decision’s been made for me.

I have a few ideas on direction. I will not be raising money. And I cannot wait to build, truly build.

[Sara 🪷 Seeking Full-Time Role! @saralanart]

Felt like resharing this here cuz I think its important

[Super Steve YT @SupersteveMobi1]

The entire Fortnite community teaming up against Tim Sweeney #firetimsweeney

[Fortnite Underground @FNBRunderground]

As #Fortnite's players, creators, and developers are looking for accountability, we've found that almost none of Epic Games' executives have publicly commented or apologized for yesterday's layoffs 🚫

- Tim Sweeney, Epic's chief and CEO, issued an apology to employees and made a post stating that "anyone [from Epic] is in the top few percent of their discipline," which has since drawn heavy criticism from angry players, influencers, and industry members and journalists
- Adam Sussman, Epic's president, has not issued a public statement
- Mark Rein, Epic's VP and co-founder, has not issued a public statement
- Daniel Vogel, Epic's Chief Operating Officer, has not issued a public statement. Vogel drew criticism in 2021 after he ended Epic's policy of granting every other Friday off to their employees
- Kim Libreri, Epic's Chief Technology Officer, has not issued a public statement
- Randy Gelber, Epic's Chief Financial Officer, has not issued a public statement
- Monika Fahlbusch, who joined Epic as their Chief People Officer leading their HR team after a tenure at the vaping company JUUL, has not issued a public statement
- Charlie Wen, Epic's Chief Creative Officer, has not issued a public statement, amod speculation he silently left the company last year
- Tera Randall, Epic's executive VP of Global Affairs, has not issued a public statement
- Steve Allison, the VP and GM of the Epic Games Store, has not issued a public statement
- Nate Nanzer, the senior VP of Commerce & Partnerships, has not issued a public statement. Nanzer joined Epic in 2019 after a tenure heading the now-defunct Overwatch League. Jeff Kaplan, the former game director of Overwatch, said in an interview that the league was wildly oversold to investors
- Saxs Persson, the executive VP behind UEFN, left the company late last year

As many of Epic's most dedicated employees - both current and now former - struggle to pick up the pieces, the silence from their executive leadership is deafening.

[Liana Ruppert ➡️ GCX @DirtyEffinHippy]

since billionaires love hoarding money so much, are they aware that shutting the fuck up is free?

[John-Henry Drabeck @Cpt_Placeholder]

After almost 8 years, my time at Epic Games has come to an unexpected end.

It’s hard to put into words what an incredible journey it has been, but I’ll try in this 🧵

[Alucar ⚔️ @realAlucar]

Make sure to support every developer you can during these hard days. Both these who got laid off and these who lost their colleagues and having to deal with regrouping and restructuring 🫶

They will make sure to deliver the best experience they can for us all.

[United Videogame Workers-CWA @vgworkers]

“I’ve been writing about games for 30 years and it has always struck me that the wrong people are running the industry. But now, the stakes are so much higher on each shoddy, short-term bet.”

https://t.co/ucrmkaKExY

[✨ped✨ @paigedugre]

I was laid off today after 2 years Epic Games.

If you enjoyed the maps in C7S2 or C6S3, The Simpsons mini-season map, or IP collabs like KPOP Demon Hunters, Superman, South Park, Doja Cat, and more, I was the Lead Environment Art and/or Environment Concept Producer for them.

[Frayed-Symphony moved to 🦋 @Sorbet_and_Rice]

I was affected by the Epic Games layoffs today, so if you need any art or UI designed for your game; let me know 😞

[Abbie Smeaton @awsmeaton]

Diva down! After 4.5 years at Epic my roles been marked as at risk with the layoffs announced today.

I've been extremely lucky to have spent my time working with a ton of talented, kind and, wonderful people. I'm so proud of everything we got to work on together.

[SkullqueenStudio @Skullqueen_S]

I was sadly impacted by this! I loved every minute I got to be a part of such an amazing group of developers! I am so thankful for my time

I am looking towards the future - if anyone has any leads of openings in QA please let me know. I have 4+ years experience!

[Emelia Fiell @emefiell]

I have 15 yrs experience in gaming & VFX wearing many hats. I've been the sole Technical Producer in Research for a last few years (managing shoots/annotation/data among others). Looking for something inspiring to bring that skill set to. Hit me up if you want to work together!

[Adam FanOfiida @FanOfiida]

Tim Sweeney leaving Epic games would be a gift to the world