King’s staff wants to get negotiations back on track after years of negotiations.
Staff at candy Crush Saga Developer King could go on strike next week, according to statements from Swedish unions Unionen and Sveriges Ingenjörer. King developers have been trying to negotiate a union contract for years, but have now issued strike notice after their proposed collective bargaining agreement (CBA) was rejected by studio management in August, Kotaku reports.
“Our members at King deserve safe conditions, a say in their workplace, and clear rules that apply to everyone,” Unionen posted on LinkedIn. “This is why Unionen has announced its strike notice.” Sveriges Ingenjörer shares a similar sentiment in his own statement, noting that unless union members and King executives reach an agreement with a mediator, the strike will go into effect on September 25.
King steered the union down this path by refusing to accept his collective bargaining agreement proposal, saying existing benefits were better for all his employees worldwide, including those in Sweden. However, issuing a strike notice does not necessarily mean that the union will have to follow through: the threat of a work stoppage is often enough to bring management back to the negotiating table.
Microsoft acquired King as part of its $68.7 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard in 2023. Blizzard Entertainment workers ratified their first union contracts earlier this week, gaining pay raises, a hybrid work schedule and “just cause” protections, among other benefits. This success and King’s role as one of Microsoft’s underwritten video game creators — King’s candy Crush Saga earned $875 million in 2025 alone, Bloomberg reports – likely adds even more pressure to contract negotiations.
