Candy Crush Maker King Signs Collective Bargaining Deal, Averting Strike
Microsoft-owned King has signed a collective bargaining agreement with Swedish unions just a day before a planned strike, following more than a year of negotiations and recent Xbox layoffs.
King, the Microsoft-owned developer behind Candy Crush, signed a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on Thursday with the unions Unionen and Engineers of Sweden, covering its Swedish employees. The deal came just one day before workers were scheduled to strike, and two days after the latest round of Xbox layoffs.
The agreement is set to take effect on April 1, 2027. Negotiations between the parties had been ongoing since May 2025.
Origins of the dispute
According to Kotaku, tension began building after a private doctor benefit was abruptly removed in 2024, prompting employees to form a union club and push for greater say in their working conditions. The process eventually culminated in a strike notice issued on September 15, followed by a period of mediation.
Before this week's agreement, King had stated it would not enter into a CBA, arguing its existing benefits were already better than what a collective agreement would offer and that restructuring under a CBA could leave employees worse off. Similar arguments have previously been used by companies such as Apple, Amazon and Activision Blizzard when facing worker organizing efforts.
What employees gain
The unions say the agreement gives King employees greater influence over their working conditions and advance notice of changes affecting their work, including reorganizations. However, the deal will not shield staff from layoffs, an issue that looms large for Microsoft gaming employees generally right now.
The agreement also brings King closer in line with Swedish labor norms — Engineers of Sweden notes that nearly nine out of ten employees in the country already have basic job security through collective bargaining agreements. Camilla Frankelius, head of negotiations at Engineers of Sweden, called it an important step for King, the gaming industry, and the Swedish labor model.
