In early 2024, Activision Blizzard, now under Microsoft's ownership, sent an email to employees at its Stockholm office announcing the discontinuation of a popular company benefit. This decision inadvertently triggered a unionization effort among the staff.

IGN has learned that last fall, over one hundred employees at the mobile game developer King's Stockholm office formed a union club with Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union. This group has been recognized and is currently engaging with company management to negotiate a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that will shape their future work environment, policies, and benefits.

Unions in Sweden differ from those in the U.S. in that workers can join a trade union at any time, regardless of their company's organization status. Approximately 70% of Sweden's workforce is part of a trade union, and the country has a long history of union-friendly laws. These unions negotiate sector-wide conditions such as salaries and sick leave, and individual membership can provide additional small benefits.

However, forming a union club and securing a CBA adds another layer to union membership in Sweden. When enough employees at a company join the same union, they can vote to establish a union board to negotiate a CBA. This agreement can secure workplace-specific benefits similar to U.S. union contracts, and the union board may gain representation at the highest levels of company management, influencing major decisions. This is what occurred at King Stockholm, following a trend seen at other Swedish gaming companies like Paradox Interactive and, more recently, Avalanche Studios.

The Doctor Is Out

I spoke with Kajsa Sima Falck, an engineering manager at King in Stockholm and a board member of King Stockholm's Unionen chapter. Falck mentioned that before 2024, union discussions at the company were minimal. There was a dedicated channel in the company Slack for union talks, but it was largely inactive, with only around nine or ten members.

However, in early January, employees received devastating news via email from management. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Stockholm office had been granted a unique benefit: a free, private doctor for employees and their families. This doctor, rumored to be hand-picked by then-CEO Bobby Kotick, became highly valued by the staff. She was efficient, responsive, supportive during the pandemic, and empathetic towards requests for sick leave or mental health support. Many employees relied on her for their healthcare needs.

The announcement that this benefit was being terminated, shortly after Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, came as a shock. Employees were given only a week's notice, forcing them to quickly seek new healthcare solutions.

Typically, King Stockholm employees were quiet about company issues, but this change sparked widespread discussion, with numerous posts appearing in the general Slack channel. "We had no bargaining power," Falck said. "With a CBA in place, we could have negotiated with our employer."

With no other options, Falck revived the union Slack channel, which quickly gained interest, reaching 217 members by the time of our conversation. Over the following months, the group organized and contacted Unionen representatives, leading to an official vote in October 2024 to form a union club with a union board at King Stockholm. [IGN reached out to Microsoft and Activision Blizzard King for comment but did not receive a response.]

No Gods, Only King

Since its establishment, the King union has held meetings with Activision Blizzard HR to establish communication protocols. Falck described their response as "neutral," which aligns with the legal protections for unions in Sweden. Microsoft has also committed to a "neutral approach" towards unions, and reports from other newly formed unions within the company suggest this stance is being upheld globally.

Falck and her colleagues understand that reinstating the private doctor benefit, especially with the same beloved doctor, is no longer possible. However, they aim to negotiate a CBA that will safeguard other valued benefits from being abruptly removed.

"It's about protecting the benefits we have through agreements, ensuring that changes aren't made without our input and the ability to negotiate," Falck explained. "We have some unique benefits, not just in the gaming industry but in Sweden as a whole. We have bonuses and other Microsoft benefits that are quite good. We want to protect these so that if changes are proposed, we can at least try to fight them or make them more secure for the future."

Other issues Falck mentioned include salary and information transparency, as well as protection and transparency around company reorganizations and layoffs. Most importantly, she and her colleagues want to influence their workplace for the betterment of everyone. As Unionen Stockholm organizer Timo Rybak stated:

"The essence of unionizing in Sweden is about both parties having influence and coming to the table to discuss matters. It's about employees helping their employer understand the everyday work, which is something entirely out of reach for any company president or HR representative who isn't directly involved in daily tasks. Giving all employees a voice and a seat at the table is a positive step.

"Labor law in Sweden still favors the employer, with greater rights than those of employees. But it's crucial for employees to know and protect their rights, especially in industries like game development or IT, which have a significant number of immigrant workers."

Falck highlighted that the union has already benefited from sharing information about employee rights, noting that many European and American game developers at King were unaware of their entitlements. Through organizing, they have been able to educate each other and better advocate for their rights both individually and collectively.

For Falck and her colleagues, forming a union club at King started as a response to an unpopular change, but its ultimate goal is to protect what they love about their job and the company's culture. "It's a different world and a different company we're getting used to. So we want to protect what is King, its culture, and its benefits."