Update (27/11): 2K Games has responded to the election news saying that it respects the decision that the mocap team in California has reached.  

"On November 22, 2024, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) held a secret ballot election where eligible 2K Petaluma Mocap Studio employees could vote about whether or not they wanted to unionise with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) union," the company wrote in a statement. 

"The NLRB has counted the ballots, and initial results indicate that the majority of employees who voted chose to unionize with IATSE.
 
"We respect the decision of our team members and appreciate everyone who participated in the election. Moving forward, we remain focused on our mission to deliver high-quality, engaging, and immersive experiences to players worldwide." 

Original story (25/11): Staff at 2K Games' motion-capture studio in California have voted to unionise. 

In a news post on the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) website, the union revealed that 15 workers voted for the motion, while six voted against on Friday, November 22nd. The election process was supervised by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). 

"Today it is evident that the people at this studio truly want what is best not only for themselves, but what is best for their coworkers, future generations of workers, and the studio as a whole," 2K mocap animator Matthew Peterson said. 

"Whilst this campaign has not been without its challenges, it is inspiring that the core driving force of this movement is empathy for one another.

"I look forward to negotiating in good faith with Take-Two, and I hope that other workers in our industry will feel inspired to organise and gain the protections that are necessary not only to survive, but thrive."

IATSE International president Matthew Loeb added: "This victory is not just about one studio; it’s about the future of work in the video game industry.

"2K MoCap workers have shown what many other entertainment workers already know — that collective action is the best way to secure fairness, equity, and respect in the workplace. Their courage will inspire others in the industry to follow suit. This outcome also demonstrates what can be achieved when workers exercise their right to organise, a right that we will continue to fight to defend and expand."

2K's California mocap studio filed to unionise in October.