Candy Crush Developer Finalizes Collective Bargaining Deal, Preventing Strike Action
This decision comes as Microsoft, the parent company, makes significant cuts across its gaming sectors.
Candy Crush developer King has finalized a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for its employees in Sweden. The deal, established in collaboration with Unionen and Engineers of Sweden, was signed on Thursday and comes just one day before a planned worker strike, following recent layoff announcements at Xbox. The agreement is set to go into effect on April 1, 2027.
Discussions on this agreement began in May 2025. Reports indicate that the removal of a private health benefit in 2024 prompted employees to unite and explore ways to have a stronger voice regarding their working conditions. After lengthy negotiations, a strike notice was issued on September 15, leading to mediation efforts.
Prior to reaching this agreement, King had maintained that it would not pursue a CBA, asserting that its current employee benefits were superior and that a restructuring might disadvantage workers. This viewpoint mirrors the stance taken by other major companies like Apple, Amazon, and Activision Blizzard. King’s management had previously claimed that their existing model worked effectively.
Union representatives believe that this new agreement enhances employee influence over working conditions and provides advance notice regarding changes that could impact their jobs, including potential reorganizations. Although the agreement does not eliminate the possibility of layoffs—an ongoing concern for many Microsoft gaming employees—it does grant staff a more formal role in decision-making processes.
Additionally, this agreement aligns King more closely with Swedish labor standards, where nearly 90% of employees benefit from job security through collective agreements, as noted by Engineers of Sweden.
Camilla Frankelius, head of negotiations at Engineers of Sweden, emphasized the significance of this development. “This marks a crucial step for King, the gaming sector, and the Swedish workforce model,” she stated in a press release. “We look forward to a productive relationship with the company and to ensuring that employees gain the essential job security that is common in Sweden.”
