Ethan Carter
King’s employees aim to revive stalled negotiations after extensive bargaining efforts.
Employees at Candy Crush Saga developer King may initiate a strike next week, as reported by Swedish labor unions Unionen and Sveriges Ingenjörer. After years of efforts to secure a union contract, the developers have formally announced a strike notice following the rejection of their proposed collective bargaining agreement (CBA) by studio management in August, according to Kotaku.
Unionen expressed on LinkedIn, “Our members at King deserve stable working conditions, a voice in their workplace, and established rules that apply universally.” The union’s announcement indicates their commitment to advancing these rights. Similarly, Sveriges Ingenjörer emphasized that if union members and King leadership cannot reach a consensus with a mediator, the strike will commence on September 25.
The situation escalated when King dismissed the union’s proposed CBA, arguing that their current benefits package was more advantageous for all employees globally, including those in Sweden. Issuing a strike notice does not guarantee immediate action; often, the mere threat of a work stoppage is sufficient to prompt management to return to negotiations.
In 2023, Microsoft acquired King as part of its $68.7 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard. Recently, employees at Blizzard Entertainment ratified their first union contracts, securing wage increases, a hybrid work schedule, and protections against unjust termination, among other benefits. The success at Blizzard, combined with King’s status as a significant revenue generator for Microsoft—reportedly, Candy Crush Saga generated $875 million in 2025 alone, as noted by Bloomberg—likely intensifies the urgency of the ongoing contract negotiations.
Daniel Mercer
