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[Draugoth]

ZOSU was formed just last December, consisting at the time of its organizing of 461 employees across ZeniMax Online Studios. This number included web developers, designers, engineers, and graphic artists at ZeniMax Online Studios working on The Elder Scrolls Online and the unannounced MMO. While ZOSU still has yet to reach a contract agreement with Microsoft, its sibling union ZeniMax Workers United, which represents ZeniMax QA workers, reached an agreement at the end of May.

ZOSU's statement is published in full below:

Earlier this month, Microsoft indefinitely shelved an unannounced MMORPG at ZeniMax Online Studios, a shock to the 222 ZOSU-CWA developers working on the project. It has been heartening and validating to see our game mentioned in the press and by players that would have loved to see the results of our work.

Undoubtedly, a future has been stolen from many of us and our community will never experience an amazing game. However, despite discussions regarding the status of our employment, the fact is: we have not yet been laid off.

While we understand that for most of us something like a layoff is inevitable, last December both the teams behind The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) and the unannounced project voted overwhelmingly to form a union and establish ZeniMax Online Studios United-CWA (ZOSU-CWA). Worker-volunteers elected to represent the interests of our union are currently bargaining with Microsoft for the benefit of our impacted teammates.

While Microsoft and ZOSU-CWA bargain over how we move forward following the project closure, the developers behind the unannounced project remain employees of ZeniMax Online Studios with full pay and benefits.

On July 2nd, our lives were upended without prior notice or communication from Microsoft leadership and without clear understanding about the status of our employment. In light of this, our union came together with urgency, gathering and distributing information and resources to our affected members.

Where Microsoft has failed to support the talented craftspeople who have generated billions in revenue, our union has stepped up to provide clarity and support.

It is true that a layoff may be in the future for some of our members. However, as a result of our organizing, we are able to ensure that those impacted will be able to depart with dignity.

More importantly, the work of ZOSU-CWA will continue so that our remaining teammates — the stalwart developers of ESO — can follow in the footsteps of our colleagues across other departments and studios at Microsoft, including our union siblings at ZeniMax Workers United (ZWU-CWA). We look forward to other units who will soon ratify fair contracts that will guarantee the rights we all deserve.

Article:

ZeniMax Union Responds to Microsoft Canceling Unannounced MMO: 'A Future Has Been Stolen From Us'

Source: https://www.ign.com/articles/zenimax-union-responds-to-microsoft-canceling-unannounced-mmo-a-future-has-been-stolen-from-us

 

[Kilau]

How to imagine them saying this.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

yes, keep this news cycle going. let Phil regret his words and deeds

 

[TrippleA345]

 

[Mr Moose]

But... You sold yourselves.

 

[SamuraiEdge]

But... You sold yourselves.

Sold or SOILED.

 

[Punished Miku]

Undoubtedly, a future has been stolen from many of us and our community will never experience an amazing game. However, despite discussions regarding the status of our employment, the fact is: we have not yet been laid off.

Some of my brain cells have been stolen from me after reading this.

 

[GHG]

Who remembers when these unions were in favour of the acquisition?

The turkeys that voted for Christmas are now crying after being deep fried.

 

[Steve Holt]

Let Phil cook

 

[Fake]

our community will never experience an amazing game.

 

[Mr Moose]

Some of my brain cells have been stolen from me after reading this.

You heard it here first, they won't be making any amazing games.

 

[SamuraiEdge]

You heard it here first, they won't be making any amazon games.

2 for 2

 

[GHG]

Let Phil cook

 

[Mr Moose]

2 for 2

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

 

[T4keD0wN]

Who remembers when these unions were in favour of the acquisition?

The turkeys that voted for Christmas are now crying after being deep fried.

Correct me if i am wrong, but wasnt this one formed after they were aquired?

 

[kpopSuperstar]

So Xbox didn't wanna go ahead with their MMO? and they are angry about that?

Making an MMO sounds like a horrible idea.

 

[GHG]

Correct me if i am wrong, but wasnt this one formed after they were aquired?

They essentially joined the same union that was pushing hard for the deal to go through:

ZeniMax Online Studios Workers Join CWA

The unit is geographically diverse, with web developers, designers, engineers, and graphic artists all over the country.

cwa-union.org

CWA Supports Microsoft’s Proposed Acquisition of Activision-Blizzard

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in support of Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard in light of the ground-breaking labor neutrality agreement between CWA and Microsoft which provides Activision Blizzard workers...

cwa-union.org

CWA asks European Commission to approve Microsoft-Activision merger

Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox

www.gamesindustry.biz

Completion of Microsoft/Activision Merger Will Transform the Video Game and Technology Labor Market

Today’s announcement that Microsoft has completed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard represents a milestone in the effort to improve working conditions in the video game industry. Under the terms of a ground-breaking, legally-binding labor neutrality agreement, Microsoft will remain neutral...

cwa-union.org

 

[SamuraiEdge]

So Xbox didn't wanna go ahead with their MMO? and they are angry about that?

Making an MMO sounds like a horrible idea.

Kind of wish it was further along because its rare to get more attempts like this but oh well.

It is what it is.

 

[Loomy]

Correct me if i am wrong, but wasnt this one formed after they were aquired?

Who remembers when these unions were in favour of the acquisition?

This specific union is less than a year old.

The CWA was the big one who endorsed the deal. There was another one as well, but those ones cried about Microsoft fucking them over after the fact.

So Xbox didn't wanna go ahead with their MMO? and they are angry about that?

Making an MMO sounds like a horrible idea.

Is it really hard to understand why they're upset that something they worked on for years just got cancelled after their boss apparently loved it so much they had to take the controller away from him?

 

[GHG]

The CWA was the big one who endorsed the deal. There was another one as well, but those ones cried about Microsoft fucking them over after the fact.

Read above, this union was formed under the CWA.

 

[Loomy]

Read above, this union was formed under the CWA.

Yeah, saw your update.

They essentially joined the same union that was pushing hard for the deal to go through:

Funnily enough, this may be why they weren't all laid off.

 

[RespawnX]

Let Phil cook

Its like expecting decent food from McDonalds. You still get trash and he even manages to burn the patties and forget the vegetables.

 

[//DEVIL//]

it must have been so amazing to the point the management was like fuck this. it looks so amazing and so polished, we need to cancel it asap to stop bleeding money..

lol @ future has been stolen from us. More like they sucked, and they are mad they are getting the axe soon for a shit job they've been doing.

Anyone who says " this sucks " and "they don't deserve this and the whole situation sucks" from the media or YouTubers is a flat liar. its very clear when people spend all these years pretending they are working and they don't have anything to show for it with a potential to be released soon, then obviously they are not good at their job.

It's time to clear these people out and actually put talented devs back. The video game industry in the West is getting destroyed because of these people. All they want is to work from home, a high salary, and vacations every couple of months because he was sweating trying to find out where is the spelling error in his code and why the code is not running. Like, cmon man gtfo.

Even if some good devs got affected by this, its easy to find a job when you are talented, you will get sourced in no time. You don't find these people crying on Twitter. I wonder why :/... oh yeah because the don't suck.


On the other side, I hope MS also eats shit and keeps on losing more money till they fire these idiots at the management that allowed things to go this bad. Who the fuck hires a temporary worker on the project for 1 year or 1.5 years and then tells them your contract is over, goodbye, mid-way while working on the project?

How many studios do you want to kill for your stupidity? As if this developer will pour in his passion and actually work on a project from his heart when he knows well in advance he is going to be fired regardless if he puts all of his energy and power on the project or not.

 

[Gamer_By_Proxy]

They had no future the moment MS bought them.

 

[pqueue]

oh boohoo, you giant titty-babies.

learn to code.

elsewhere.

 

[SamuraiEdge]

it must have been so amazing to the point the management was like fuck this. it looks so amazing and so polished, we need to cancel it asap to stop bleeding money..

lol @ future has been stolen from us. More like they sucked, and they are mad they are getting the axe soon for a shit job they've been doing.

Anyone who says " this sucks " and "they don't deserve this and the whole situation sucks" from the medial or YouTubers is a flat liar. its very clear when people spend all these years pretending they are working and they don't have anything to show for it with a potential to be released soon, then obviously they are not good at their job.

It's time to clear these people out and actually put talented devs back. The video game industry in the West is getting destroyed because of these people. All they want is to work from home, a high salary, and vacations every couple of months because he was sweating trying to find out where is the spelling error in his code and why the code is not running. like cmon man gtfo.

Even if some good devs got affected by this, its easy to find a job when you are talented, you will get sourced in no time. You don't find these people crying on twitter. I wonder why :/... oh yeah because the don't suck.


On the other side, I hope MS also eats shit and keeps on losing more money till they fire these idiots at the management that allowed things to go this bad. Who the fuck hires a temporary worker on the project for 1 year or 1.5 years and then tells them your contract is over, goodbye, mid-way while working on the project?

How many studios do you want to kill for your stupidity? As if this developer will pour in his passion and actual work on a project when he knows well in advance if he will be working or not, and he is still getting fired by the end of the contract?

Preach brother.

The time for culling is now.

Give me my good fucking games.

 

[Rush2112]

Oh no now I will never get to play their next generic ftp mmo.

 

[TintoConCasera]

Bet it was Starfield Online or some shit like that.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

It's time to clear these people out and actually put talented devs back.

Oh they're looking for talent all right

 

[TintoConCasera]

Oh they're looking for talent all right

She has the monitor pointing in the wrong direction.

Is she retarded?

 

[damidu]

lol at phil-boot licking rats coming out of their holes. never change rats!
im sure xbox will do wonders with the talent they are left with. bwaha

 

[FoxMcChief]

Over dramatic much?

 

[FoxMcChief]

My children have stolen my future.

 

[SamuraiEdge]

My children have stolen my future.

Woah we don't do this here, comrade. Off to parent jail you go.

 

[jm89]

A future unions loved.

Look forward to papa Satya to gut you even further for his AI ambitions.

 

[Punished Miku]

My children have stolen my future.

... dad?

 

[FoxMcChief]

lol at phil-boot licking rats coming out of their holes. never change rats!
im sure xbox will do wonders with the talent they are left with. bwaha

Where did Phil touch you?

 

[FoxMcChief]

... dad?

 

[Klayzer]

They essentially joined the same union that was pushing hard for the deal to go through:

ZeniMax Online Studios Workers Join CWA

The unit is geographically diverse, with web developers, designers, engineers, and graphic artists all over the country.

cwa-union.org

CWA Supports Microsoft’s Proposed Acquisition of Activision-Blizzard

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in support of Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard in light of the ground-breaking labor neutrality agreement between CWA and Microsoft which provides Activision Blizzard workers...

cwa-union.org

CWA asks European Commission to approve Microsoft-Activision merger

Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox

www.gamesindustry.biz

Completion of Microsoft/Activision Merger Will Transform the Video Game and Technology Labor Market

Today’s announcement that Microsoft has completed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard represents a milestone in the effort to improve working conditions in the video game industry. Under the terms of a ground-breaking, legally-binding labor neutrality agreement, Microsoft will remain neutral...

cwa-union.org

One of the greatest con deals ever. Suckers.

 

[Hero_Select]

I think I remember reading that the project was started in 2018, so it must have been pretty far along when it got cancelled. Crazy.

Microsoft has truly lost it.

 

[damidu]

Where did Phil touch you?

oh so cute, lick harder though.
he might have a spare ball for you to gargle.

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

In other words MS stopped giving us blank checks to keep making pure slop?

 

[Laptop1991]

After no new TES or Fallout SP games in 10 to 15 years and those awful online MMO's cash crab's ESO and Fallout 76, and not forgetting that phone game Blades, i'm going to have to praise Microsoft for this one for once, Good!, i thought Zenimax didn't exist any longer after MS bought Bethesda's catalogue.

 

[Zacfoldor]

it must have been so amazing to the point the management was like fuck this. it looks so amazing and so polished, we need to cancel it asap to stop bleeding money..

lol @ future has been stolen from us. More like they sucked, and they are mad they are getting the axe soon for a shit job they've been doing.

Anyone who says " this sucks " and "they don't deserve this and the whole situation sucks" from the media or YouTubers is a flat liar. its very clear when people spend all these years pretending they are working and they don't have anything to show for it with a potential to be released soon, then obviously they are not good at their job.

It's time to clear these people out and actually put talented devs back. The video game industry in the West is getting destroyed because of these people. All they want is to work from home, a high salary, and vacations every couple of months because he was sweating trying to find out where is the spelling error in his code and why the code is not running. Like, cmon man gtfo.

Even if some good devs got affected by this, its easy to find a job when you are talented, you will get sourced in no time. You don't find these people crying on Twitter. I wonder why :/... oh yeah because the don't suck.


On the other side, I hope MS also eats shit and keeps on losing more money till they fire these idiots at the management that allowed things to go this bad. Who the fuck hires a temporary worker on the project for 1 year or 1.5 years and then tells them your contract is over, goodbye, mid-way while working on the project?

How many studios do you want to kill for your stupidity? As if this developer will pour in his passion and actually work on a project from his heart when he knows well in advance he is going to be fired regardless if he puts all of his energy and power on the project or not.

Dude, come on bro, this is your head canon. Being cancelled by Microsoft does not mean your games was shit. It just means it was Tuesday. Nobody should trust Microsoft. This is the lesson.

"Screw the workers" is not a message I can get behind. I dislike unions and greedy pricks just as much as the next guy but I have a feeling at least as good as yours that Zenimax was on track for mild success with this mmo and were completely blindsided.

I do completely agree with your 2nd half but like, it seems contradictory to the first half, lol. I guess if you hate "crybabies" you could try to make this fit but ffs just because someone brings another reason to light as to why we should hate MS doesn't make them crybabies. Again it just makes it Tuesday.

Going around the net the top rated comments I see are usually "Sony too!" which is of course absolutely not the case at this scale. I don't know where to start with getting the community on the right page here. "Sony too!" and "fuck crybaby game makers" is not the message that we should take from this but I'm apparently powerless to stop it.

 

[SJRB]

 

[EN250]

Someone needs to ask them on what side they were pre acquisition, because if they were pro buyout, they played themselves, lmao...

 

[bender]

oh so cute, lick harder though.
he might have a spare ball for you to gargle.

Let's ask adamsapple .

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

 

[adamsapple]

Looks like Blackbird may have been canceled for more Fallout.