Magic: The Gathering Arena Developers Form Union to Secure Layoff, Remote Work, and AI Protections

The team behind Magic: The Gathering Arena is taking a significant step by unionizing with the Communications Workers of America (CWA).

In a recent announcement, a collective of Wizards of the Coast (WOTC) employees revealed they have secured a supermajority in favor of forming a union. They are urging WOTC and its parent company, Hasbro, to voluntarily acknowledge the union and maintain a neutral stance during the ongoing unionization process.

Senior software engineers Valentine Powell and Neil White shared with an outlet that the unionization efforts began a few years back, primarily triggered by two rounds of mass layoffs that affected around 2,000 employees across Hasbro—nearly one-third of the workforce—including many at Wizards of the Coast. An additional 3 percent of the company faced layoffs in 2025.

The initial discussions started after the first wave of layoffs, but White noted that the push for a return to office (RTO) policies significantly accelerated their efforts. Both engineers expressed that Hasbro’s communication regarding RTO over the past year has been confusing and inconsistent. Initially, it seemed that remote workers could continue working from home, or that specific teams might remain remote. However, this shifted to a near-universal mandate for returning to the office starting next year. They pointed out that Hasbro is currently only hiring new employees from the Seattle area and requiring in-office work, which restricts their hiring options.

The group outlined seven reasons for their unionization, stating that “recent decisions by WOTC and Hasbro leadership have not aligned with the values of their employees,” and emphasized that this list only highlights some of the challenges they face. Their concerns include:

When asked for more details on their concerns, Valentine referenced the layoffs, mandatory RTO, and the use of generative AI as decisions made for short-term gains that ultimately hurt the game and the team in the long run. He emphasized the desire for employees to have a voice in management proposals.

“There are many instances where decisions are made to chase profit rather than considering the long-term vision for our product. We want to be able to say, ‘We’re the people making the game, engaging with the community, and receiving feedback on these decisions. We have valuable insights to contribute.’”

Valentine encouraged MTG: Arena players and fans to support the union by voicing their opinions to Hasbro, including signing the union’s public petition for voluntary recognition and speaking out on platforms like Reddit. “Your voices are crucial, especially now as Hasbro decides how to respond to this union. If you ask them to step up and recognize us voluntarily, they will listen to the player base. You are the reason we create this product, and your influence is significant right now.”

Once established, the union is expected to represent around 100 workers from various roles within the MTG: Arena team. While Valentine couldn’t provide official numbers, they noted that this represents “the highest percentage of eligible individuals committed to a union that I’ve ever seen.”

The group has submitted an election petition to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which they will withdraw if management recognizes the union by the end of business on May 1, coinciding with International Workers’ Day.