Changing The Game Forever: ‘D&D’ And ‘Magic: The Gathering’ Workers Are Unionizing
by Anton Kromoff
Welcome to the table,
The people, including pals who make Dungeons & Dragons, are attempting to change the game in a huge way. Not in regards to mechanics, new monsters, or a spell list that makes my Awakened House Cat Wizard even more difficult for Cullen Bunn to destroy.
Instead, it’s this: “Dungeons & Dragons and Studio X Join United Wizards of the Coast – CWA”
What’s happening in a nutshell: workers across Wizards of the Coast have announced their intent to unionize with the Communications Workers of America.
For some, that might sound like some kind of internal workplace scuffle, but considering how much of modern tabletop gaming has grown out of D&D and Magic: The Gathering, what happens next could ripple far beyond “The Coast.”
The workers behind the campaign state they are seeking better wages and clearer career progression, better job security, reliable healthcare, sustainable workloads, and protections around remote and hybrid work. I personally have interviewed for the D&D team. The major barrier for me has been the last two line items.
Their office is new, rad, and accessible for sure … but finding an accessible home within driving distance and refitting it for my wheelchair is a monumental undertaking in a good economy. In this one we have right now, it’s beyond nightmarish to try and figure out.
The team is also calling for protections against the encroachment of AI and a greater ownership of creative work produced outside the office. As someone who has had his work locked down thanks to a dubious publisher, I totally understand why those protections are powerful in the space and why those two issues can prove to be significant for the TTRPG industry as a whole.
AI is rapidly becoming one of the biggest questions facing creative industries across the board. For TTRPG, where writers, artists, designers, editors, mapmakers, and other creatives have big questions about “scrape” and generative programs being given their hard work as training data. The thought of that brings up heavy questions about creative ownership and human replacement, I’m sure.
With a collective bargaining agreement, the teams could be given actual power and choice in determining how that tech was allowed to be used in their workplace.
While the union is not yet guaranteed, the October 13th recognition deadline is only the beginning of what could be a lengthy process. The symbolism is difficult to miss.
D&D and MTG helped set a precedent for how games are being played … and now the people who make these games are asking the question, “Can we change the way the games are being made?”
This talented group of people can do anything they put their minds to.
Until next time, I want to leave you with a link and this statement from the teams involved: “While today’s announcement is certainly exciting, it’s just the start. To the fans of D&D, Magic, and more, we ask that you sign our petition asking for Wizards of the Coast to voluntarily recognize our union and engage in good-faith bargaining.”
