Ziff Davis laid off multiple IGN staff members, including prominent video presenters Seth Macy and Brian Altano, just two months before Grand Theft Auto VI's release—one of the year's biggest gaming news events. The layoffs affected various departments across the gaming website and its sister publications, prompting criticism from IGN's union about timing and lack of advance notice during a critical period for games media.
After two years of stalled negotiations, Blizzard workers have secured a comprehensive union contract covering 1,900 employees across all unionized teams including World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo. The agreement, achieved through unified mobilization and pressure from the CWA-affiliated unions, establishes consistent protections and wages across all units rather than separate contracts per team.