Around 450 developers from the Diablo series have formed a labor union. This move serves as a direct response to persistent layoffs and an increasingly unstable working environment.

The news broke on the 29th via various international media outlets. According to reports, approximately 450 Diablo staff members have joined the Communications Workers of America (CWA). This new union is comprised of a diverse array of employees, including artists, designers, and engineers from the Diablo development team. Microsoft has officially recognized the formation of this union.

The team formed this union to push back against the industry's so-called 'Passion Tax'—a culture of sacrifice—and the precarious job security caused by recurring layoffs. Sky Hophling, an engineer on Diablo 3, stated in a CWA press release: 'Passion alone cannot shield us from job instability. Through this union, we can focus on delivering better experiences to players, rather than worrying about our own job security.'

This is not the first instance of Blizzard developers forming such a large-scale labor union. In July of last year, 500 World of Warcraft developers previously formed a union under the CWA to secure better pay, benefits, and workplace stability.