adminKing has decided not to enter into a collective bargaining agreement with Swedish unions Unionen and Sveriges Ingenjörer after nearly a year of negotiations. The Candy Crush developer says its existing benefits and operating model better suit its needs, while Unionen says many employees wanted the transparency, security and workplace influence such an agreement can provide.
Image credit: King
King collective bargaining agreement decision
King president Todd Green informed employees that the company had reviewed what adopting an agreement would mean and decided against moving forward for now. King said the decision was made after considering its effects on employees and the company’s operations in Sweden.
The company maintains that its current employment benefits are competitive and, in its assessment, match or exceed provisions that could be included in a collective agreement. King cited pensions, long-term sick pay, private health insurance and parental leave as examples of benefits already offered to employees.
King also argued that an agreement would require changes to how those benefits are arranged and could affect employees’ terms. It said adopting one would also involve significant changes to Swedish processes, policies and working practices. For employees comparing the company’s position with union claims, it is useful to distinguish King’s assessment from Unionen’s view: the two parties describe the value and effects of an agreement differently.
What King and Unionen said about negotiations
King said its choice was not a sign of disrespect toward trade unions or Sweden’s labor model. The company stated that it would continue consulting with unions when required and maintain dialogue with local union representatives on employee matters.
Unionen said its members at King had clearly called for an agreement. In the union’s view, a collective agreement could provide clearer and more transparent employment terms, greater security and a meaningful role for employees in workplace matters. The union described the decision as disappointing for members who had supported the negotiations and said it remained committed to representing them and pursuing an agreement.
King said it communicated its decision to employees in June 2026. The company also emphasized that it had taken time to assess the issue and recognized the role of collective agreements in Sweden’s labor market.
Background to the union effort
King employees formed a union club in late 2024, following the loss of access to private doctors as part of their benefits package. Negotiations over a collective bargaining agreement began in 2025. The sequence helps explain why benefits and employee representation became central points in the discussions.
For employees following the matter, the practical issues to watch are whether benefit arrangements change, how King consults with union representatives, and whether negotiations resume. The company has said dialogue will continue, but it has not committed to entering an agreement at this time.
Union activity at other Microsoft studios
King is part of a wider group of video game studios where workers have organized. Several Microsoft subsidiaries have unionized since 2022, including Raven Software, which became the first major video game union in the United States.
Other organized groups named in connection with the industry include Activision Quality Assurance United-CWA, OneBGS at Bethesda Game Studios, the World of Warcraft Game Makers Guild, quality assurance teams at Blizzard in Albany and Austin, Activision User Research Union-CWA, Overwatch Gamemakers Guild-CWA and Diablo developers. In April, the CWA said negotiations with Microsoft had stalled.
What the decision means
King’s decision leaves the company’s current employment arrangements in place for now, according to its statement, while the union continues to advocate for an agreement. The King collective bargaining agreement talks reflect differing views on whether existing benefits are sufficient and how employees should have a say in workplace terms. Future developments will depend on continued discussions between King, its employees and the unions.
