Workers at Heart Machine, the indie game studio behind titles like Hyper Light Drifter and Solar Ash, have officially formed a union with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 9003. This step comes after rounds of layoffs and the cancellation of their early access game Hyper Light Breaker, reflecting growing industry demands for better protection and representation among game developers.
Union Formation and Studio Recognition
Heart Machine’s union covers all 13 frontline employees at the studio. After a supermajority of eligible workers voted in favor, the studio voluntarily recognized the union in February 2026. This wall-to-wall unit represents all the key creative and technical staff at the company.
The unionization effort marks a significant milestone for Heart Machine, which has navigated difficult times in recent years. In particular, last year’s layoffs, followed by the halting of development on Hyper Light Breaker, catalyzed employee organizing initiatives to safeguard their interests.
Impact of Recent Layoffs and Project Halts
In November 2024, Heart Machine laid off staff amid shifts in company priorities and market challenges. Then, in October 2025, the studio announced it would end development on Hyper Light Breaker, leading to further staff reductions. These events created uncertainty for employees and increased calls for collective bargaining rights to improve working conditions.
These layoffs are part of a broader pattern in the gaming industry, with many studios facing financial pressures resulting in workforce cuts and project cancellations. Heart Machine’s experience highlights the volatility faced by smaller independent developers.
Employee Perspectives on Unionization
Steph Aligbe, a gameplay tools engineer at Heart Machine, emphasized the importance of unionization, stating that watching peers in the industry organize inspired involvement. “If we love this work, we have to protect it,” Aligbe said, reflecting the growing momentum among game developers to gain a stronger voice in their workplaces.
The union aims to foster a more secure and equitable environment at Heart Machine, helping employees influence decisions on job security, creative direction, and workplace culture moving forward.
Broader Trends in Video Game Industry Unionization
Heart Machine’s decision to unionize expands the footprint of CWA in gaming, which already includes thousands of employees at Microsoft subsidiaries, EA, and Id Software among others. The CWA also runs the United Videogame Workers organization, launched in 2025, enabling individual workers to join directly without needing employer recognition or collective elections.
In recent years, major studios like Ubisoft have also experienced a wave of layoffs and worker protests, with unionization efforts increasingly viewed as a necessary step for employees to protect creative careers amid industry upheavals.
Looking Ahead for Heart Machine and Industry Workers
As Heart Machine embarks on this new chapter with union representation, the studio’s employees hope to set an example for other independent developers facing similar challenges. Unionization represents a growing movement in the gaming industry to ensure workers have a voice in shaping the future of their craft and securing better workplace conditions.
With increasing awareness and organization in the sector, more studios may follow suit in recognizing unions as an integral part of managing talent and sustaining creative innovation.
