Dragon Age: Dreadwolf QA Testers Protest BioWare on N7 Day
Dragon Age: Dreadwolf QA testers, laid off by BioWare, stage a protest on N7 Day outside the Edmonton office EA dismisses the demonstration as 'misguided'
On November 7, a day typically dedicated to celebrating BioWare's Mass Effect franchise, a group of laid-off unionized QA testers who were previously working on the highly anticipated Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, gathered outside of BioWare's Edmonton office in protest. These testers were previously employed by Keywords Studios, a company that had a contract with BioWare and whose testers had contributed to both Mass Effect: Legendary Edition and the long-awaited upcoming installment of the Dragon Age series. Unfortunately, last month, all the testers were let go as BioWare decided not to renew its contract with Keywords, despite the fact that the testers had successfully unionized the previous year.
The group of laid-off testers, who were previously working remotely, is now protesting at BioWare's Edmonton office. They are demanding reinstatement by Keywords and permission to continue negotiating their first union contract. The main reasons for unionizing were to increase their pay and preserve the option of remote work, which BioWare and Keywords were planning to eliminate. The testers believe that the termination of their contract was a deliberate tactic to undermine the union.
Initially, BioWare and its parent company, EA, tried to prevent the protesters, who were remote staff, from demonstrating outside the Edmonton office. They argued that since these workers never physically worked at the office, they did not have the right to protest there. Instead, EA and BioWare proposed that the union members picket outside their own homes. However, the Alberta Labour Relations Board disagreed and granted the former Keywords employees, even though they worked remotely, the right to protest outside the Edmonton office.
Union spokesperson James Russwurm explained to Game Developer that the protest aims to raise awareness, rather than impede BioWare employees from working or entering the premises. He emphasized that their primary focus is informing and engaging with interested BioWare employees about the possibility of unionization. The intention is to spread the message rather than cause disruption.
EA referred to the protest as "misguided" in a statement to Kotaku. An EA spokesperson stated that they hope Keywords and the union can resolve their differences, but asserted that BioWare has no involvement in the process. They expressed their belief that any activities targeting their offices are unfounded, as BioWare is not participating in the negotiations, and clarified that Epcor Tower has never served as a workplace for Keywords employees.
Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, initially revealed in 2018, is expected to be delayed until at least the summer of 2024, with the potential of a release as late as 2025. As a consequence of recent layoffs at BioWare, approximately 50 workers have taken legal action against both BioWare and EA regarding their severance benefits.
Editor's P/S
The protest staged by the laid-off QA testers on N7 Day, a day dedicated to celebrating BioWare's Mass Effect franchise, highlights the growing discontent and frustration within the gaming industry regarding labor practices. The testers, who were working on the highly anticipated Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, were let go as BioWare decided not to renew its contract with Keywords Studios, despite the testers' successful unionization efforts. This raises concerns about the treatment of QA testers in the industry and the challenges they face in securing stable employment and fair working conditions.
The fact that BioWare and EA initially tried to prevent the protesters from demonstrating outside the Edmonton office, arguing that they never physically worked there, reflects a lack of understanding and respect for the rights of workers. The Alberta Labour Relations Board's decision to grant the former Keywords employees the right to protest outside the Edmonton office is a positive step in recognizing the rights of remote workers and their ability to engage in collective action.
