Hyper Light Drifter studio workers form union after rounds of layoffs
Source: Engadget
Union Formation at Heart Machine
Workers at Heart Machine, the independent studio behind Hyper Light Drifter and Solar Ash, have formed a union with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 9003. The wall‑to‑wall unit covers all 13 frontline employees at the studio, which voluntarily recognized the union in February after a supermajority of eligible workers voted for the measure.
- Union announcement: https://cwa-union.org/news/releases/video-game-developers-heart-machine-secure-voluntary-union-recognition-cwa
- List of frontline employees: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/-if-we-love-this-work-we-have-to-protect-it-heart-machine-workers-secure-voluntary-union-recognition
- Voluntary recognition guidance: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/general/workcenter/Neutrality-Guidance.pdf
Context: Recent Layoffs and Project Cancellation
The organizing effort follows a rough stretch at Heart Machine:
- November 2024: The studio laid off employees. (source: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/hyper-light-breaker-developer-heart-machine-confirms-layoffs)
- October 2025: Heart Machine announced it would end development on its early‑access title Hyper Light Breaker and cut further staff. (source: https://www.engadget.com/gaming/hyper-light-breaker-studio-will-end-the-games-development-and-lay-off-staff-162941243.html)
Worker Perspective
“I decided to get involved in organizing my studio because I’ve seen so many peers in the industry stand up to protect the craft we all care so deeply about. Watching that momentum grow made me realize that if we love this work, we have to protect it, especially now,” said Steph Aligbe, gameplay tools engineer at Heart Machine.
Broader Industry Impact
Heart Machine joining the CWA extends the union’s gaming footprint. The CWA already represents:
- Thousands of employees at Microsoft subsidiaries. (source: https://cwa-union.org/news/nothing-stops-blizzard-cwa-video-game-workers-ratify-third-microsoft-contract)
- Staff at EA. (source: https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/unionized-ea-staffers-are-not-happy-about-that-proposed-saudi-backed-acquisition-155559256.html)
- Employees at id Software. (source: https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/doom-studio-id-software-forms-wall-to-wall-union-with-a-majority-of-employees-voting-in-favor-164808829.html)
The CWA also runs the United Videogame Workers, a direct‑join union launched in 2025 that allows individual game workers in the US and Canada to sign up without elections or employer consent. (source: https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/video-game-workers-in-north-america-now-have-an-industry-wide-union-130024730.html)
Large studios such as Ubisoft have experienced a string of layoffs, prompting workers to demand that their voices be heard:
- Layoffs at Ubisoft Stockholm: https://www.engadget.com/gaming/star-wars-outlaws-developer-massive-entertainment-and-ubisoft-stockholm-face-layoffs-134234968.html
- Ongoing layoffs: https://www.engadget.com/gaming/ubisoft-proposes-even-more-layoffs-after-last-weeks-studio-closures-and-game-cancellations-192703241.html
- Specific staff cuts (e.g., Splinter Cell remake): https://www.engadget.com/gaming/ubisoft-lays-off-40-staff-working-on-splinter-cell-remake-says-game-remains-in-development-151139753.html
- Worker actions and strikes: https://www.engadget.com/gaming/1200-ubisoft-workers-went-on-strike-in-response-to-company-restructuring-and-mandatory-return-to-work-policy-163714986.html