Heart Machine Workers Form Union Following Layoffs, Securing Voluntary Recognition with CWA

Culver City, Calif. – Developers at Heart Machine, the independent studio behind critically acclaimed games Hyper Light Drifter and Solar Ash, have formed a union with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 9003. The move comes after a period of layoffs and studio restructuring, signaling a growing trend of unionization within the video game industry.

Wall-to-Wall Union Represents All Frontline Employees

The newly formed bargaining unit encompasses all 13 frontline employees at Heart Machine, including animators, designers, gameplay engineers, environmental artists, and a gameplay tools engineer. This “wall-to-wall” representation ensures that all non-managerial staff are included in the union, providing a unified voice for workers’ rights and benefits. The studio voluntarily recognized the union in February after a supermajority of eligible workers expressed their desire for representation.

Motivations Behind the Unionization Effort

Steph Aligbe, a gameplay tools engineer at Heart Machine and a member of CWA Local 9003, explained the impetus for organizing. “I decided to get involved in organizing my studio given that I’ve seen so many peers in the industry stand up to protect the craft we all care so deeply about. Watching that momentum grow made me realize that if we love this work, we have to protect it, especially now,” Aligbe stated. The union aims to negotiate a first contract that will safeguard the workplace and advocate for improved conditions for employees.

Recent Challenges at Heart Machine

The unionization effort follows a challenging period for Heart Machine. In November 2024, the studio conducted layoffs, and in October 2025, it announced the cessation of development on its early access title, Hyper Light Breaker, resulting in further staff reductions. The studio as well explored alternative revenue streams, including experimenting with Patreon, amid broader funding struggles within the gaming industry .

CWA’s Expanding Presence in the Gaming Industry

This victory for the CWA extends its growing influence within the video game industry. The union already represents workers at major studios such as Blizzard Entertainment, id Software (the developers of Doom), and EA. The CWA also operates United Videogame Workers, a direct-join union launched in 2025, offering an alternative pathway for game workers to organize without traditional election processes .

Industry-Wide Trend of Unionization

The Heart Machine unionization is part of a larger trend of workers demanding greater representation and improved conditions in the gaming industry, particularly in the face of frequent layoffs and economic uncertainty. As large gaming studios continue to undergo restructuring, employees are increasingly seeking collective bargaining power to protect their livelihoods and the quality of their work .