The 'wizards' behind the online version of Magic: the Gathering are unionizing [View all]

Source: The Guardian

Developers at the studio Wizards of the Coast cited AI and layoff protections as some issues driving unionization effort

Michael Sainato
Mon 27 Apr 2026 10.00 EDT

Magic: the Gathering is casting lots for a union. Game developers at the popular digital and tabletop studio Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro that develops online versions of the popular card game are seeking to join the Communications Workers of America.

The workers announced their intent to unionize Monday to join the CWA, which has organized thousands of workers in the tech and video game industry in recent years, including the largest certified union in the US video game industry in 2024 representing 600 quality assurance workers at Activision.

More than 100 game designers, programmers, producers, artists and other workers at the studio will be represented by the bargaining unit, with workers stating they have a supermajority of support. They are requesting voluntary recognition, but have filed for a union election at the National Labor Relations Board as well, offering to withdraw the petition if they are voluntarily recognized by 1 May.

Workers cited layoff protections, remote work protections, generative AI protections for workers, sustainable workloads and defined career progressions as some of the issues driving the unionization effort.


A player sifts through their deck of collectible Magic: the Gathering cards during a tournament at Comic-Con International in San Diego, California, on 23 July 2022. Photograph: Bing Guan/Reuters

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/27/magic-the-gathering-online-unionization