A game workers' union is staging a series of in-person protests this week to push back against recent mass layoffs at Xbox-owned studios. Organized by the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the 'Save Our Devs' demonstrations are scheduled for July 15, 2026, across six different locations.

Quick Facts

  • Event Date: July 15, 2026
  • Organizer: Communications Workers of America (CWA)
  • Key Studios Impacted: ZeniMax, id Software, and Obsidian
  • Stated Goal: Securing enforceable layoff protections

The union reports that more than 400 of its members have already lost their jobs at ZeniMax and Bethesda. With additional layoffs anticipated later this year, the CWA is mobilizing to prevent further workforce reductions and hold management accountable. One studio, id Software, has reportedly seen up to 75 percent of its workforce cut.

"The company wants us to accept this as a done deal and quietly disappear. We won't let that happen," the CWA stated. "We need to show management right now that we mean business, so they will properly take care of our fellow co-workers today and think twice before ever attempting something like this again."

Protest Locations

The demonstrations will take place at the following sites:

  • ZeniMax (Austin, Texas)
  • ZeniMax (Rockville, Maryland)
  • id Software (Dallas, Texas)
  • Microsoft (Redmond, Washington)
  • Obsidian (Irvine, California)
  • Victoria Square (Montreal, Canada)

Demanding Enforceable Protections

Beyond the immediate protests, the union is focused on long-term structural changes. The CWA is currently fighting for "enforceable layoff protections," which would mandate that Microsoft negotiates with studio teams before initiating further layoffs. This approach aims to give employees more influence over staffing decisions and maximize job retention.

While U.S.-based employees face the brunt of these cuts, there is a contrast in how Microsoft is handling international staff. For instance, the company is currently engaged in a mandatory consultation period with Arkane in France, where local labor laws provide stronger protections than those typically found in the U.S. While the outcome of that consultation remains uncertain, it provides workers with additional time to negotiate or prepare for future changes.