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Omaha Steve

(109,633 posts) Mon Apr 27, 2026, 09:08 PM 17 hrs ago

The 'wizards' behind the online version of Magic: the Gathering are unionizing

Source: The Guardian

Developers at the studio Wizards of the Coast cited AI and layoff protections as some issues driving unionization effort

Michael Sainato
Mon 27 Apr 2026 10.00 EDT

Magic: the Gathering is casting lots for a union. Game developers at the popular digital and tabletop studio Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro that develops online versions of the popular card game are seeking to join the Communications Workers of America.

The workers announced their intent to unionize Monday to join the CWA, which has organized thousands of workers in the tech and video game industry in recent years, including the largest certified union in the US video game industry in 2024 representing 600 quality assurance workers at Activision.

More than 100 game designers, programmers, producers, artists and other workers at the studio will be represented by the bargaining unit, with workers stating they have a supermajority of support. They are requesting voluntary recognition, but have filed for a union election at the National Labor Relations Board as well, offering to withdraw the petition if they are voluntarily recognized by 1 May.

Workers cited layoff protections, remote work protections, generative AI protections for workers, sustainable workloads and defined career progressions as some of the issues driving the unionization effort.

A player sifts through their deck of collectible Magic: the Gathering cards during a tournament at Comic-Con International in San Diego, California, on 23 July 2022. Photograph: Bing Guan/Reuters

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/27/magic-the-gathering-online-unionization

5 replies

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The 'wizards' behind the online version of Magic: the Gathering are unionizing (Original Post) Omaha Steve 17 hrs ago OP

Good for them. There's been more and more of a backlash against AI use to create games - as there highplainsdem 17 hrs ago #1

This message was self-deleted by its author jfz9580m 11 hrs ago #3

Covid and it's social distancing created a gold rush in gaming. pecosbob 17 hrs ago #2

WoTC has begun to outsource all D&D materials, so M:tG employees have seen their future watching another product line Simeon Salus 8 hrs ago #4

From what I've heard purr-rat beauty 7 hrs ago #5

highplainsdem

(62,737 posts)

1. Good for them. There's been more and more of a backlash against AI use to create games - as there

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Mon Apr 27, 2026, 09:30 PM

17 hrs ago

should be.

Response to highplainsdem (Reply #1)

jfz9580m This message was self-deleted by its author.

pecosbob

(8,450 posts)

2. Covid and it's social distancing created a gold rush in gaming.

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Mon Apr 27, 2026, 09:43 PM

17 hrs ago

The subsequent slump in sales as the market stabilized forced these corporations to reassess their positions. Their solution was to cut staff, adopt AI slop and attack the developers' unions.

Simeon Salus

(1,644 posts)

4. WoTC has begun to outsource all D&D materials, so M:tG employees have seen their future watching another product line

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Tue Apr 28, 2026, 06:34 AM

8 hrs ago

This is Chris Cocks's Hasbro. They expect to make massive profits without spending a dime.

purr-rat beauty

(1,341 posts)

5. From what I've heard

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Tue Apr 28, 2026, 07:30 AM

7 hrs ago

For the most part fans of the game are vehemently against the proliferation of AI in the cardboard version...ya can't be a fan of a computer, or can you?

But soon enough, they'll be told tough luck as prices for the product continue to grow and more shit not related to the game's lore is squeezed out (Universes Beyond). Don't get me started on The Secret Lair handling, it is such a cash grab, 80% of whales ( those who buy massive amounts to flip ) are probably HASBRO workers and investors.

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