As 2026 kicks off, the gaming world finds itself at a crossroads with unionisation stories grabbing headlines like never before. After decades of being dismissed or laughed off, the push for organised labour within game development is finally building serious momentum. That momentum, however, still faces a formidable wall of resistance from some corners of the industry’s leadership, where the culture around crunch, long hours, and unclear job security lingers stubbornly.
These early signs suggest 2026 could be a defining year for unions in gaming, a moment where gains made by workers will either solidify or risk being quietly sidelined. The drama unfolding now isn’t just about forming worker groups; it’s about challenging entrenched attitudes that have shaped the industry for decades. How this tension plays out will shape not just jobs and wages, but the very culture of game development moving forward.
Source: gamesindustry.biz
