John Hartzell
@johnhartzell.bsky.social
Senior Game Systems Designer. MMO Enjoyer. Currently Blizzard Entertainment. Previously ZeniMax Online Studios & EA Sports. Opinions are my own.
QA continues to lead the way on unionization and collective action within the games industry. For developer unions, the wins and solidarity from QA unions has been instrumental to success and motivation.
They are the unsung heroes in so many ways and deserve more respect for their critical work.
They are the unsung heroes in so many ways and deserve more respect for their critical work.
Blizzard QA workers' newly ratified union contract locks in pay increases, better benefits
aftermath.site/blizzard-qa-wo...
aftermath.site/blizzard-qa-wo...
February 2, 2026 at 9:14 PM
QA continues to lead the way on unionization and collective action within the games industry. For developer unions, the wins and solidarity from QA unions has been instrumental to success and motivation.
They are the unsung heroes in so many ways and deserve more respect for their critical work.
They are the unsung heroes in so many ways and deserve more respect for their critical work.
Reposted by John Hartzell
Quality assurance testers at Blizzard Albany and Austin offices have reached a groundbreaking contract at Microsoft, marking the third union contract across the company's gaming studios.
Solidarity!
Solidarity!
Blizzard Quality Assurance Workers Ratify Video Game Union Contract With Microsoft
A strong majority of quality assurance workers at Blizzard’s Albany and Austin locations overwhelmingly voted to ratify a union contract at Microsoft, ensuring lasting protections in the workplace.
cwa-union.org
February 2, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Quality assurance testers at Blizzard Albany and Austin offices have reached a groundbreaking contract at Microsoft, marking the third union contract across the company's gaming studios.
Solidarity!
Solidarity!
Reposted by John Hartzell
As tens of thousands across America protest the violence that ICE sows with impunity, federal agents shot and killed another person in Minneapolis today.
ICE terrorizes our cities. ICE puts us all in danger. Abolish ICE.
January 24, 2026 at 6:00 PM
As tens of thousands across America protest the violence that ICE sows with impunity, federal agents shot and killed another person in Minneapolis today.
ICE terrorizes our cities. ICE puts us all in danger. Abolish ICE.
Reposted by John Hartzell
The AFL-CIO mourns our AFGE union brother, Alex Jeffrey Pretti, who was killed today by federal agents.
Our thoughts are with Alex’s loved ones. The Trump administration’s operation—and their actions aimed at stoking violence and chaos—must end.
https://bit.ly/4pVTpFO
Our thoughts are with Alex’s loved ones. The Trump administration’s operation—and their actions aimed at stoking violence and chaos—must end.
https://bit.ly/4pVTpFO
January 25, 2026 at 12:29 AM
The AFL-CIO mourns our AFGE union brother, Alex Jeffrey Pretti, who was killed today by federal agents.
Our thoughts are with Alex’s loved ones. The Trump administration’s operation—and their actions aimed at stoking violence and chaos—must end.
https://bit.ly/4pVTpFO
Our thoughts are with Alex’s loved ones. The Trump administration’s operation—and their actions aimed at stoking violence and chaos—must end.
https://bit.ly/4pVTpFO
Reposted by John Hartzell
So excited for my colleagues at id in this major step towards better representation at yet another AAA studio.
165 workers at id Software, the studio behind the Doom and Quake franchises, have elected to unionize with the Communications Workers of America in yet another wall-to-wall developer union within Microsoft. https://bit.ly/3KZu8fr
December 12, 2025 at 8:03 PM
So excited for my colleagues at id in this major step towards better representation at yet another AAA studio.
Unfortunately I am a part of the mass layoffs at Xbox. Our incredible new MMORPG at ZeniMax Online Studios has been cancelled.
July 2, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Unfortunately I am a part of the mass layoffs at Xbox. Our incredible new MMORPG at ZeniMax Online Studios has been cancelled.
Reposted by John Hartzell
CWA members employed by the Trevor Project are condemning the decision by the Department of Health and Human Services to end funding for specialized suicide hotline services for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults.
Thread 🔽
Thread 🔽
June 23, 2025 at 2:10 PM
CWA members employed by the Trevor Project are condemning the decision by the Department of Health and Human Services to end funding for specialized suicide hotline services for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults.
Thread 🔽
Thread 🔽
www.engadget.com/gaming/zenim...
Congrats @zenimaxworkers.bsky.social and @codecwa.bsky.social ! This is a historic moment for every person working in games across the United States.
Another important step closer to our destination on the path to a more sustainable and fair games industry for all.
Congrats @zenimaxworkers.bsky.social and @codecwa.bsky.social ! This is a historic moment for every person working in games across the United States.
Another important step closer to our destination on the path to a more sustainable and fair games industry for all.
ZeniMax and Microsoft ratify union agreement
The agreement with ZeniMax Workers United-CWA is Microsoft's first union contract in the US with any industry.
www.engadget.com
June 21, 2025 at 3:59 AM
www.engadget.com/gaming/zenim...
Congrats @zenimaxworkers.bsky.social and @codecwa.bsky.social ! This is a historic moment for every person working in games across the United States.
Another important step closer to our destination on the path to a more sustainable and fair games industry for all.
Congrats @zenimaxworkers.bsky.social and @codecwa.bsky.social ! This is a historic moment for every person working in games across the United States.
Another important step closer to our destination on the path to a more sustainable and fair games industry for all.
I remember fondly playing the original Oblivion in my college dorm room. Before I knew that being a game developer was a path I could take.
Such a wonderous world, compelling characters, and freedom of choice.
I am excited to experience it again and so many to experience it for the first time!
Such a wonderous world, compelling characters, and freedom of choice.
I am excited to experience it again and so many to experience it for the first time!
April 22, 2025 at 3:48 PM
I remember fondly playing the original Oblivion in my college dorm room. Before I knew that being a game developer was a path I could take.
Such a wonderous world, compelling characters, and freedom of choice.
I am excited to experience it again and so many to experience it for the first time!
Such a wonderous world, compelling characters, and freedom of choice.
I am excited to experience it again and so many to experience it for the first time!
Seeing the deluge of AI generated art, poorly imitating Studio Ghibli, being vomited onto the internet after a new AI update. It reminds me of a famous clip of Miyazaki. In which, Miyazaki describes the use of AI to imitate human made art "an insult to life itself".
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngZ0...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngZ0...
Hayao Miyazaki's thoughts on an artificial intelligence
YouTube video by Manhattan Project for a Nuclear-Free World
www.youtube.com
March 27, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Seeing the deluge of AI generated art, poorly imitating Studio Ghibli, being vomited onto the internet after a new AI update. It reminds me of a famous clip of Miyazaki. In which, Miyazaki describes the use of AI to imitate human made art "an insult to life itself".
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngZ0...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngZ0...
Reposted by John Hartzell
ZeniMax Online Studios workers form union, because unions rule
aftermath.site/zenimax-onli...
aftermath.site/zenimax-onli...
December 13, 2024 at 4:51 PM
ZeniMax Online Studios workers form union, because unions rule
aftermath.site/zenimax-onli...
aftermath.site/zenimax-onli...
I am so intensely proud of my coworkers tonight. We are celebrating this historic win because of the hard work, dedication, and support of devs from wall to wall at ZOS.
Today we, a majority of video game workers at ZeniMax Online Studios and the workers behind ESO, are proud to announce the launch of our union with
@cwaunion.bsky.social! ✊
@cwaunion.bsky.social! ✊
December 13, 2024 at 12:34 AM
I am so intensely proud of my coworkers tonight. We are celebrating this historic win because of the hard work, dedication, and support of devs from wall to wall at ZOS.
Great view to start day 1 of Iceland. Ready for an excellent EVE Fanfest.
September 18, 2023 at 11:32 AM
Great view to start day 1 of Iceland. Ready for an excellent EVE Fanfest.