The Heart Machine union has officially been recognized after staff at the studio behind Hyper Light Drifter formed a bargaining unit and received voluntary recognition from company leadership. The move places the indie developer among a growing number of game studios where workers are organizing to strengthen labor protections.
The Heart Machine union includes 13 employees who joined together under the Communications Workers of America (CWA). Workers initially informed management of their intention to unionize in February and requested voluntary recognition shortly afterward.
By agreeing to recognize the union without a formal election process, Heart Machine signaled support for employee organizing within the studio.
Heart Machine union forms after industry layoffs
The creation of the union comes after several rounds of layoffs at the studio over the past few years. The developer, known for titles such as Hyper Light Drifter, has faced staffing reductions during a period of uncertainty across the gaming industry.
In 2024, Heart Machine laid off an undisclosed number of employees. Roughly 13 months later, another round of job cuts followed. A third round of layoffs occurred only weeks later, shortly before the release of the studio’s game Possessor(s), which was published by Devolver Digital.
These workforce changes contributed to growing conversations among employees about job stability and working conditions. As a result, staff members began exploring the possibility of forming the Heart Machine union.
Developers say the Heart Machine union protects creative work
Members of the newly formed Machine union say their goal is to protect both workers and the creative process behind game development.
Gameplay tools engineer Steph Aligbe, a member of CWA Local 9003, explained that many developers across the industry have begun organizing in order to safeguard their craft.
According to Aligbe, game development has become increasingly challenging due to intense competition in the media landscape. Developers must invest significant time, creativity and care into their work to produce games that stand out.
Union supporters believe that stronger workplace protections can help teams focus on creativity without the constant pressure of job insecurity.
Heart Machine union part of wider gaming labor movement
The Machine union reflects a larger trend in the video game industry, where more workers are turning to unions to address workplace concerns.
In recent years, the Communications Workers of America has helped organize thousands of game developers. Nearly 4,000 workers across Microsoft-owned studios have unionized through the same organization.
These include employees from major studios such as Id Software, Bethesda and Blizzard.
The growth of unions within the gaming industry marks a significant shift for a sector that historically lacked organized labor structures.
Heart Machine union begins contract discussions
With the Heart Machine now recognized, employees will begin negotiating their first contract with management. The agreement is expected to focus on workplace protections, job stability and fair employment conditions.
Union members say they hope the process will establish a healthier environment where developers can collaborate effectively and build successful games.
Voluntary recognition of the Heart Machine union may also influence other independent studios considering similar steps.
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, labor organization is becoming a key issue shaping how studios balance creativity, business pressures and the well-being of development teams.
