This shows the power that comes from employees joining forces:' King signs

Chris Kerr,Contributor

September 25, 2026

schedule2 Min ReadImage via King

King has signed a collective bargaining agreement with Swedish unions Engineers of Sweden and Unionen after employees at the Candy Crush maker threatened to commence strike action.

The strike was scheduled to begin on September 25, 2026, and was called after negotiations over a collective agreement between the Microsoft subsidiary and its unionized workforce reached an impasse. The two parties had been in conversation since May 2025. Now, at the eleventh hour, a deal has been reached.

According to Engineers of Sweden, the collective bargaining agreement signed by King will present employees with more opportunities to "influence their work situation." Workers will also gain the right to organize and receive information in "good time" when changes impacting the workplace are being made—for instance, in the event of reorganisations (layoffs).

"This is an important step for King, the gaming industry and for the Swedish model. We look forward to good cooperation with the company going forward and to the employees receiving the basic job security that almost nine out of ten employees in Sweden have through collective bargaining agreements", said Camilla Frankelius, head of negotiations at Engineers of Sweden, in a press release.

"This shows the power that comes from employees joining forces in their dedication for change and improvement. Without the fantastic engagement of our members at King, it would have been much more difficult to reach this agreement."

Engineers of Sweden, which represents around 100 employees across King's offices in Malmo and Stockholm (the studio currently employs around 500 people in total across those locations), described the collective bargaining agreement as a "floor not a ceiling."

"The agreement ensures that employees and employers agree on rules, both in good and bad times. [...] Employers can offer more generous benefits than what the agreement stipulates," it explained. "The collective bargaining agreement applies to all employees with an employer and guarantees that everyone has the same basic conditions. But to receive negotiation assistance employees need to be members of the union."

The news comes days after King parent company Microsoft jettisoned even more workers from its video game division.

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About the Author

Chris Kerr

Contributor

Game Developer's former news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, andPocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton.

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