The video game industry, like much of the tech, has been resistant to unionization for a very long time. But like so many other white-collar businesses, video game studios are built on the backs of thousands of exploited, low-paid workers.

This is the story of Canada’s first-ever video game union. And the lengths that the industry went to try to stop it in its tracks.

Featured in this episode: James Russwurm, Johanna Weststar, Pablo Godoy

To learn more

Not All Fun and Games: Videogame Labour, Project-based Workplaces, and the New Citizenship at Work by Marie-Josée Legault and Johanna Weststar

“Members of Canada’s first video game industry union vote in favour of strike action” by Curtis Ng in Global News.

“The video game industry is booming. Why are there so many layoffs?” by Kenzie Gordon, Jennifer R. Whitson, Johanna Weststar, and Sean Gouglas in The Conversation.

“2024 has already had more video game industry layoffs than all of 2023 — and it's only June” by Nicole Carpenter in Polygon.

FairPlay4GameWorkers Twitch Channel

Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Max Collins (Production Manager), Karyn Pugliese (Editor in Cheif)

Additional music from Audio Network

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