After 3 Years, Call of Duty QA Workers Seal First Union Contract With Microsoft
QA testers will now get a guaranteed 10% pay increase over the next two years.
The quality assurance union at Raven Software, a key support studio behind Call of Duty (Black Ops 6), has officially ratified its first contract with Microsoft, three years after the union was formed.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Activision
Under the new agreement, QA testers will receive a guaranteed 10% pay increase over the next two years, along with additional raises and bonuses. The union also secured strict limits on overtime, layoff protections, and expanded accessibility provisions for workers with disabilities.
"After more than three years of organizing and bargaining, seeing it finally pay off feels incredible," said bargaining committee member and QA tester Erin Hall. "From day one, we made it a priority to include every voice in the room, and the contract we came out with reflects what we need – better pay, real career paths, and protection from burnout. It’s a contract that actually values the work QA does. I’m proud of what we accomplished, and I hope it shows other game workers that organizing works – and it’s worth it."
Union representatives emphasized that this contract highlights the vital role of QA in game development and expressed hope that it would inspire more studios to unionize. Notably, Activision had previously resisted the formation of the union and even withheld raises from employees involved. The dynamic shifted following Microsoft’s acquisition of the company.
You can find the full press release here. Earlier, we shared that Call of Duty now requires age verification, which is impossible not to pass, unless you are an extremely honest kid.
Don't forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our Discord server. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads for breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.
