From Engadget · Ian Carlos Campbell · · 1m 20s
Candy Crush developers plan strike next week
King's staff are threatening a work stoppage after years of failed contract negotiations with studio leadership.
In brief
King's staff are threatening a work stoppage after years of failed contract negotiations with studio leadership. A strike threat can force management back to the bargaining table, especially when a game generates nearly a billion dollars annually. Originally reported by Engadget.
Candy Crush developers threaten strike
King's staff issued a strike notice after the studio rejected their proposed union contract in August. The walkout could begin September 25 unless negotiations resume.
“Our members at King are entitled to secure conditions, a say in their workplace and clear rules that apply to everyone.”
Years of stalled negotiations
Swedish unions Unionen and Sveriges Ingenjörer have been trying to secure a collective bargaining agreement with King for years without success.
King rejected the proposed contract
The studio claimed its existing benefits were better for all global employees, including those in Sweden, and declined to accept the union's proposed collective bargaining agreement.
Blizzard workers just won their fight
Blizzard Entertainment staff ratified their first union contracts this week, securing wage increases, hybrid work schedules, and just cause protections.
Candy Crush earns nearly a billion
King's Candy Crush Saga generated 875 million dollars in 2025 alone, making it one of Microsoft's most reliable revenue sources and adding pressure to settle the labor dispute.
Microsoft owns King through Activision
Microsoft acquired King as part of its 68.7 billion dollar purchase of Activision Blizzard in 2023, making the strike threat a test of the company's labor relations.
Here's the gist
A strike threat can force management back to the bargaining table, especially when a game generates nearly a billion dollars annually.
