The United Videogame Workers branch of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union is demonstrating today to protest last week's mass layoffs at Xbox subsidiary studios.
To show solidarity with workers, modders are teaming up to add pro-union signs to Bethesda's suite of games. First came Skyrim, and now, Fallout 4 (good place, rock paper shotgun).
Pro-Union signs are now available in Fallout 4
Emmi “Elianora” Junkkari worked with fellow modder Greenfoxell to add various pro-Union signs to Fallout 4 with 'One for All and All for One – Support the Devs' and 'Unified Front – save our devs'. These modes include pro-union, pro-demonstration and anti-layoff signs, such as: “Save the gods, stop the layoffs!” and “Unite. Don't mourn, organize!”.
Mods include t-shirts, jackets, power armor, and even a peep-boy skin with the logo of OneBGS, Bethesda's Union. If you can't get to any of the CWA's physical protests today, you're encouraged to share your Fallout 4 and Skyrim worlds with the Union icon.
Individual protests are taking place in Dallas (ID Software), Austin (Bethesda), Montreal (Bethesda), Rockville (Bethesda) and Irvine (Obsidian Entertainment). Local people of these areas should attend these rallies if they are passionate about the cause.
“As Microsoft restructures, the workers who power its biggest franchises deserve protections, not to be treated like disposable line items,” read a statement from CWA's District 6 Vice President Derrick Osobes. “It's our CWA members who make the games that make Xbox valuable. Today's lineup includes Zefts, Software Studios, Softwares Studios, Bedimats Online Studios, legendary studios whose employees brought us games like Doom, Quake, Elder Scrolls and Fallout.”
“This week's layoffs will reduce the quality of these iconic games and make them less fun to play, with long delays in release, ultimately only hurting players and reducing revenue for Microsoft,” Osobes warns.
It has become abundantly clear that corporate ownership does not respect pre-established synergies between workflows and developers. You can't necessarily 'plug and play' developers into a role and expect them to fit the culture. Teams that make plays together will be more adept at making the next play together – a concept that seems lost on middle managers looking at names on a spreadsheet.
Result 4
- issued
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November 10, 2015
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and gore, intense violence, strong language, drug use
