2K Motion Capture Studio Employees Vote to Unionize

Update (November 27): 2K Games has officially addressed the recent developments regarding the unionization efforts of its California-based mocap team. The company has expressed its acknowledgment and support for the team’s decision.

"On November 22, 2024, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) facilitated a secret ballot election. During this process, eligible employees at the 2K Petaluma Mocap Studio were given the opportunity to vote on whether they wanted to join the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) union," the company’s statement explained.

"The ballots have been tallied by the NLRB, and it appears that the majority of participating employees have chosen to align with IATSE. We respect our team members’ choice and appreciate the participation of everyone involved in the election. Moving forward, our focus remains on crafting high-quality, captivating, and immersive experiences for gamers around the world."

Original Story (November 25): The motion-capture team at 2K Games in California has made the move to unionize. According to a post on the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) website, 15 studio employees voted in favor of the unionization, while six voted against it on Friday, November 22nd. The election was overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

"Today, it’s clear that the team members here genuinely care about not just their own well-being but also the well-being of their colleagues, future workers, and the entire studio," 2K mocap animator Matthew Peterson expressed.

"Although this campaign faced its share of hurdles, the driving force behind it was our mutual empathy," he continued. "I’m eager to negotiate sincerely with Take-Two and hope this inspires other industry workers to organize and secure the necessary protections to not just survive, but to thrive."

IATSE International President Matthew Loeb remarked, "This victory goes beyond just one studio; it signals a shift in the video game industry’s labor landscape.

"By taking collective action, 2K MoCap employees have demonstrated what many entertainment workers already know — that it’s the most effective way to ensure fairness and respect in the workplace. Their bravery will surely motivate others in the industry to follow their example. This outcome highlights the power of workers exercising their right to organize, a right we are committed to defending and expanding."

The efforts to unionize by 2K’s California mocap studio began in October.