Independent video game studio Heart Machine voluntarily acknowledged the union formed by the employees.
The developer behind 2021 Solar ash And 2016 Hyperlite Drifter The Communications Workers of America agreed Monday to recognize an umbrella union representing all non-management employees. Previously, the union reported that the majority of studio workers had expressed interest in joining the CWA.
Thirteen employees are included in the bargaining unit, including animators, designers, gameplay engineers, environment artists, and a gameplay engineer. Heart Machine is based in Los Angeles and the union will be under the umbrella of Burbank-based CWA Local 9003.
“I decided to get involved in organizing my own studio because I saw so many colleagues in the industry standing up to protect the craft that we all care so deeply about. Watching this momentum build made me realize that if we love this work, we have to protect it, especially now,” Steve Allegbe, Toy Instrument Engineer, said in a statement.
“Our union is proud that our studio has chosen to voluntarily recognize our union and live up to our high work values, and we look forward to working on the first contract that protects our workplace.”
Hollywood Reporter I have reached out to Heart Machine for comment.
This union comes on the heels of a round of layoffs that Heart Machine reportedly made in 2025 at the same time the company ended development of the early access game. Hyper Light Breaker. In 2025, The Verge reported that the studio was experimenting with Patreon as a source of income amid the gaming industry’s funding struggles.
It’s the latest organizing victory for the CWA, which previously organized unions at Blizzard Entertainment and death Identity software developers, as well as the people behind the popular franchise Diablo.
THR Newsletters
Sign up to get THR news straight to your inbox every day
Subscribe subscription
