Wizards of the Coast Union Demands Halt on Generative AI in 'AI Dungeon' Games

Wizards of the Coast, a leading developer of tabletop games and trading card games, is facing pressure from its own employees. The company’s Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering teams have unionized under the Wizards of the Coast-CWA (UWOTC-CWA) banner, joining forces with the Arena team that formed earlier this year.

The union has presented a list of demands to Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast leadership, including an end to the push for generative AI in game development. The company’s adoption of Large Language Models (LLMs) and generative AI has been met with resistance from employees who feel it encroaches on their creative freedom.

The UWOTC-CWA is giving Hasbro until October 13 to voluntarily recognize the expanded union, which includes the Dungeons & Dragons team and Team X behind Magic: The Gathering and Dual Masters. However, this may be an uphill battle, as Wizards of the Coast did not voluntarily recognize the Arena team when it first formed.

The new union has shared a petition outlining its demands, including protection against AI encroachment in game development. Employees are seeking ‘a robust and enforceable AI policy that aligns with our goals and values.’ This demand is particularly relevant given the company’s push for generative AI in games like Dungeons & Dragons.

Another key demand from the union is full ownership of creative work outside of work hours. The UWOTC-CWA argues that employees should not be subject to company claims on intellectual property created during their free time, including works unrelated to Wizards’ IP.

The union’s stance on generative AI and employee rights marks a significant development in the gaming industry. As companies increasingly turn to AI-powered tools for game development, concerns about creative freedom and ownership are growing among developers and artists.

Only time will tell if Hasbro recognizes the expanded union or if it will have to file with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and win another election.