Union Workers Stage 'Save Our Devs' Rallies Across North America to Protest Xbox's 3,200 Layoffs

NewsData.io · United States · Aug 20, 2026

Hundreds of CWA-affiliated workers rallied outside Xbox studios in seven U.S. and Canadian cities on August 19, 2026, protesting Microsoft's plan to eliminate 3,200 jobs across its gaming division — its fifth round of layoffs in three years. The cuts, which began with 1,600 immediate terminations at studios including id Software, Obsidian, and ZeniMax Online, have heavily impacted unionized workers. The CWA and CWA Canada have filed legal action against Microsoft for allegedly mishandling the reductions, while Microsoft says it has initiated effects bargaining with the union.