In a landmark moment for the video-game industry, 23 workers at 2K’s Petaluma, California, motion-capture (MoCap) studio voted in November 2024 to join the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) — becoming the first motion-capture studio team in video games to unionize.
The campaign began in earnest last October, when the Petaluma MoCap unit filed for a union election under the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
Their rationale was rooted in several longstanding concerns: stagnant wages, unclear job classifications, hiring tiers that undercut long-term career prospects, and the seismic implications of AI and automation in their craft.
When the vote was held, the outcome was decisive: 15 in favor and 6 against, roughly 71 percent of the workers voted in favor of the union. IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb welcomed the win, noting it “is not just about one studio; it’s about the future of work in the video-game industry.”
From the vote to bargaining, forging the first contract
With the election behind them, the newly recognized unit entered negotiations with management at Take-Two/2K to craft its first collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
“This journey has been long and arduous,” said Stage Technician Connor Bredbeck. “We have shown resilience, determination, empathy, and solidarity in the face of callous resistance. We have proven our worth, and now it is time to see a return on our hard-earned successes.”
The Union says it expects the group to finalize its first Collective Bargaining Agreement by the end of 2025.
Key bargaining priorities include:
- job security and clearer promotion/hiring pathways
- wage floors and equity across job titles
- transparent workload and scheduling practices
- protections in the face of AI/automation risks
- enhanced voice and representation in day-to-day studio operations
“Today it is evident that the people at this studio truly want what is best not only for themselves, but what is best for their coworkers, future generations of workers, and the studio as a whole… the core driving force … is empathy for one another,” said Matthew Peterson, Motion Capture Animator.
