Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering Teams Initiate Unionization Push

The teams responsible for some of the biggest properties in tabletop and digital gaming are officially seeking to organize. Developers behind Dungeons & Dragons, D&D Beyond, Magic: The Gathering, and Duel Masters have announced their intent to unionize, aiming to join the existing United Wizards of the Coast (UWOTC) group. Formed earlier this year by Magic: The Gathering Arena developers in partnership with the Communication Workers of America (CWA), the union is now expanding its reach to cover nearly every major intellectual property under the Wizards of the Coast umbrella, with the notable exception of Magic: The Gathering Online.

Protecting the future of tabletop and digital play

In an official statement, the group declared themselves “stewards of our games” who are seeking to secure protections for the workforce. Their core demands include layoff protections, improved wages, safeguards regarding the use of artificial intelligence, support for remote work, and full ownership of creative work produced outside of Wizards of the Coast office hours. The organizers are currently calling for public support through a petition, urging parent company Hasbro to voluntarily recognize the union.

Why it matters

This move represents a significant shift in the internal culture at one of the gaming industry’s most influential companies. If successful, this expansion would consolidate labor representation across the studio’s primary development teams, potentially setting a new standard for how major tabletop and CCG developers negotiate job security and creative autonomy. For players, this means the future of your favorite games—from the latest D&D rulesets to Magic expansion cycles—is tied to the working conditions of the teams building them. While voluntary recognition from Hasbro remains uncertain, given the company’s past opposition to unionization efforts during the MTG Arena election, this ongoing labor movement is a critical development to watch for anyone invested in the long-term stability and direction of the D&D and Magic brands.