Mere weeks ago, quality assurance testers at Microsoft-owned ZeniMax Media were celebrating.
ZeniMax Workers United-CWA was first formed back in 2023, and after almost two years and nearly going on strike, the union ratified a contract with Microsoft, securing better pay, a set of principles for how AI would be used, and more.
On Wednesday, July 2, Microsoft announced mass layoffs, with cuts across the Xbox division that encompasses numerous companies, including ZeniMax.
It's upended the lives of many testers at ZeniMax Workers United, who are feeling whiplash from how everything has unfolded. While the Communication Workers of America (CWA) isn't sharing exact numbers — over 300 workers were part of ZeniMax Workers United before the cuts — the team has been impacted, with Windows Central confirming that some testers were cut.
"Studio-wide, we lost so many talented, wonderful workers for seemingly no reason. Every single person that got laid off was someone that I trusted to get the job done, and people that we absolutely needed. That's what makes this rough."
Page Branson, Senior QA Tester
