Raven Software
Company
11 documents in the library are about Raven Software, from writers such as The Esports Advocate, Hit Points and Game Developers Conference. Each has a summary and key insights with the page they come from.
Connections
Each row is a game or company named alongside Raven Software, each column a document, oldest first. A mark means that document names it. Select a row to see those documents.
Documents about Raven Software
3 Years Later... They Won
After a three-year negotiation process, 19 quality assurance testers at the Raven Software studio have successfully ratified their first union contract with Microsoft.
- Nineteen quality assurance testers at Microsoft’s Raven Software studio ratified their first union contract, concluding a three-year negotiation process that began in 2021.
- The contract mandates a 10 percent wage increase for the unit over a two-year period.
- New labor protections include the elimination of many mandatory overtime instances and a requirement for seven days’ notice for any remaining required overtime.
Week in Mobile Games E59 - A dark day for Xbox
Microsoft is currently navigating a period of profound instability characterized by massive workforce reductions affecting approximately 9,100 to 10,100 employees across key studios, including King, Rare, Turn 10, and Blizzard.
- Microsoft has initiated a significant restructuring of its gaming division, resulting in the closure of The Initiative, the cancellation of 'Ever Wild' and 'Warcraft Rumble', and substantial layoffs at studios including Rare, Raven Software, and Turn 10, which saw a 50% staff reduction.
- Microsoft's strategy to integrate Activision Blizzard IP into Game Pass has faced criticism for potentially devaluing premium franchises like Call of Duty without driving a commensurate surge in subscription growth.
- Microsoft's internal mobile gaming strategy remains fragmented, as the company struggles to translate its core console IP to mobile platforms, with King remaining focused on casual titles rather than midcore or high-end adaptations.
Activision Blizzard Layoffs Tracker
The Activision Blizzard Layoffs Tracker provides a comprehensive overview of workforce reductions within the company from 2019 through early 2025.
- Between 2019 and early 2025, Activision Blizzard and Microsoft’s gaming divisions eliminated approximately 3,600 positions through multiple rounds of restructuring.
- The January 2024 post-acquisition integration by Microsoft resulted in 1,900 layoffs, followed by an additional 650 cuts in September 2024, primarily impacting corporate and support roles.
- In February 2019, the company cut 800 jobs—roughly 8% of its workforce—despite reporting record annual revenues of $7.26 billion for 2018.
Communications Workers of America File Complaint With National Labor Relations Board on Behalf of Raven Software Workers
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Raven Software, a Wisconsin-based studio owned by Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard.
- The Communications Workers of America (CWA) has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Activision Blizzard, a subsidiary of Microsoft, regarding the alleged illegal disciplining of a union member at Raven Software.
- The CWA alleges that management violated the National Labor Relations Act by prohibiting a union member from discussing a disciplinary investigation with colleagues or the union, creating a chilling effect on protected labor activities.
- This filing follows a broader August 2024 complaint in which Raven Software union members accused Activision Blizzard and Microsoft of bad-faith bargaining and retaliatory practices, including the discriminatory treatment of employees regarding pay, promotions, and work-from-home policies.
Workers at Activision Blizzard Studio Proletariat Organize
In December 2022, a supermajority of employees at the Boston-based game studio Proletariat announced their intent to unionize, filing for a representation election with the National Labor Relations Board.
- A supermajority of workers at the Boston-based studio Proletariat have filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board, seeking representation through the Proletariat Workers Alliance/CWA.
- If successful, Proletariat would become the third Activision Blizzard studio to unionize, following Raven Software and Blizzard Albany, though it is the first to include the entire studio workforce rather than just QA staff.
- Microsoft, which is in the process of acquiring Activision Blizzard for $69 billion, has signed an agreement with the union to remain neutral regarding organizing efforts.
QA Workers at Activision Blizzard Albany Officially Unionize
Quality assurance workers at the Activision Blizzard studio in Albany, New York, have officially unionized, forming the Game Workers Alliance Albany.
- Quality assurance workers at Activision Blizzard Albany have officially unionized as the Game Workers Alliance Albany following a 14-0 vote.
- The U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rejected an appeal from Activision Blizzard management, which had argued that the bargaining unit should be studio-wide rather than limited to QA staff.
- Management challenged four additional votes on the grounds that they were not submitted in time, despite organizers attributing the delays to issues such as mail delivery problems.
Raven QA are Unionizing | Games ReCAP
Quality assurance (QA) workers at Raven Software, a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, have initiated a historic effort to form the first major North American video game industry union, known as the Game Workers Alliance.
- Raven Software QA workers have formed the Game Workers Alliance, marking the first major unionization effort in the North American video game industry.
- The organizing effort was triggered by a December 2021 strike following the non-renewal of contracts for several QA staff members.
- Activision Blizzard has countered unionization efforts by restructuring, including a 41% increase in minimum compensation for Raven QA staff and transitioning over 60% of temporary QA personnel to full-time roles.
Reasons to be Cheerful
The acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft for $68.7 billion represents a significant turning point for the industry, offering a potential path toward organizational reform and creative revitalization.
- Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion will result in the immediate departure of CEO Bobby Kotick and a significant restructuring of the company's leadership and corporate culture.
- The acquisition provides an opportunity to move away from the 'hit factory' model that prioritized annual Call of Duty releases, potentially allowing support studios like Raven and Toys for Bob to pursue more creative projects.
- Blizzard is expected to shift away from strict milestone-driven development toward more patient, quality-focused production methods, similar to its historical approach during the development of titles like Overwatch.
Nothing for Money
The primary purpose of this analysis is to challenge the traditional view of video game reviews as consumer-focused buyer’s guides.
- The role of video game reviews has shifted from traditional buyer's guides to expert curation and analysis, remaining vital even as games become accessible via subscription services and free-to-play models.
- Ubisoft has entered the NFT market with the launch of its Quartz platform, facing significant public backlash despite the company's stated goal of energy-efficient implementation.
- Activision employees continue to hold walkouts in protest of recent layoffs within the Raven Software QA team.
GDC Plays Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast with Raven Software
The development of Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast represents a pivotal moment in early 2000s action gaming, characterized by a transition from traditional first-person shooters to hybrid combat experiences.
- Raven Software developed Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast by hybridizing first-person shooter mechanics with third-person combat systems inspired by Heretic II and Bushido Blade.
- The development team utilized the technical foundation of Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Force to build the game, leveraging proprietary tools like GTK Radiant to manage hardware limitations.
- To ensure performance on early 2000s hardware, the team implemented rigorous asset optimization, level segmentation, and memory-efficient solutions like procedural facial animations driven by audio volume.
The Video Game Industry: A Resource for Organizers
The global video game industry has evolved into a massive economic powerhouse, with market valuations projected to reach $435 billion by 2028.
- The global video game industry is projected to reach a market valuation of $435 billion by 2028, supported by a workforce of over 330,000 employees.
- Nearly 80 percent of surveyed industry employees support unionization as a response to systemic labor instability and workplace grievances.
- Market consolidation, driven by aggressive mergers and acquisitions by major corporations like Tencent, has reduced worker bargaining power and increased employment precariousness.
