Modern Warfare 4 Testers Push for Union Strike Amid Stalled Contract Talks: “It’s Time to Take Action”
Nearly 600 quality assurance testers at Activision, primarily based in Minnesota, formed a union in March 2024. Now, over two years later, this group, which is currently preparing for the launch of Modern Warfare 4 on October 16, has yet to finalize its first collective bargaining contract. The testers have accused the Microsoft-owned company of not honoring the “positive labor management relationship” that was promised under a now-expired neutrality agreement established when the union was formed. They have voted to authorize a strike if their situation does not improve.
“Bargaining has been a long, exhausting process spanning over two years, with our committee making responsible moves while the company continues to stall on critical issues like wages, accommodations, and worker protections,” said Emily Danko, a member of the AQAU-CWA bargaining committee and QA functional tester. “Despite our efforts to bargain in good faith, meaningful progress has been difficult, leaving key issues unresolved. Our members remain united and continue to mobilize, but we are exploring every option available to secure the fair contract we deserve.”
The testers have accused the publisher of failing to “bargain in good faith” regarding wage increases, AI regulations, and the use of contractors. While a strike authorization vote does not guarantee a strike will occur, it does mean the union, represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA), has cleared the final hurdle to declare a strike at any time.
“Activision has been working in good faith with the CWA for the Central QA team and we have made meaningful progress on a number of issues,” a company spokesperson stated. “Our goal is a fair first contract that supports our QA team members and the long-term success of the business. We remain committed to open dialogue with the union and have offered to meet again on October 21 and 22. We respect our employees’ right to engage in protected activity, including the right to strike. We have plans in place to ensure there is no disruption to players or upcoming game releases.”
As Modern Warfare 4 prepares for its global release, it’s important to note that major titles often require extensive post-launch patches to address issues players encounter during the initial rollout. A strike could significantly affect the live-service experience of the game during the crucial holiday sales period.
“Our offices are working every day on MW4 to ensure the game is the best we can make it,” said QA functional tester Jenna Huffman. “In order to continue doing so, our workers expect fair pay, fair treatment, and the fair contract we’ve spent over two years bargaining for.”
She added, “We’re forced to come into work every day without fair accommodations and we continue to be under constant threat of sweeping layoffs without meaningful protections. Time and time again we’ve asked the company to meet us at the table to resolve these issues, and we’ve seen nothing but delays and unrealistic counters.”
While Microsoft has indicated further layoffs in the coming months as part of an ongoing restructuring of Xbox, the QA group has already seen its numbers reduced by nearly a third since unionizing, now comprising just over 400 members compared to the nearly 600 it had in early 2024. “The games still need testing, updates still need to ship, and players still expect quality,” Danko noted. “When the workforce shrinks but the work continues, it raises legitimate questions about how that work is redistributed, how workloads change, and whether remaining employees are being asked to do more with less. We shouldn’t have to sacrifice sustainable workloads or quality to make up for staffing cuts.”
A significant concern is how AI will be integrated across Activision, particularly within its testing departments. QA is often highlighted as a field that could be automated through generative AI tools. “QA is more than checking boxes,” Danko emphasized. “It requires human judgment, contextual understanding, and the ability to recognize problems that automated systems may miss.”
To facilitate its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft entered into a temporary labor neutrality agreement with the CWA, which sparked a wave of unionization within the gaming division. However, that agreement expired last fall, and testers report a noticeable shift in the company’s approach since then. “Since the agreement expired, the company has been significantly bolder in their attempts to push the bounds of the status quo, while further slowing the rate of negotiations at the table,” Huffman stated.
When the Activision testers’ union was first established, a Microsoft deputy general counsel expressed optimism about maintaining a “positive labor management relationship.” Two years later, that sentiment feels distant. “It’s difficult to reconcile that statement with our current bargaining experience. A positive labor-management relationship requires more than supportive words; it requires meaningful engagement, good-faith negotiations, and a willingness to work toward solutions,” Danko concluded. “After nearly two years, we need to see that commitment reflected in the company’s actions at the table, not just in public statements.”
