The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain has become the first trade union to represent members of the games industry. The UK chapter of Game Workers Unite, the international pro-union activist group, has joined the IWGB as its games industry branch and will hold its first meeting this weekend.

Game Workers Unite UK describes itself as a “worker-led, democratic organisation that represents and advocates for UK game workers”. The union’s goals include ending excessive and unpaid overtime, improving diversity and inclusion, supporting harassed workers and ensuring a steady living wage for everyone.

GAME WORKERS UNITE UK IS NOW A LEGAL TRADE UNIONWe are proud to announce that we have become a branch of @IWGBunion - a small, dynamic and effective trade union.Are you a worker and are worried you will be exploited by the games industry✊🏻✊🏿✊🎮JOIN: https://t.co/ENyNOreC4F pic.twitter.com/1e00eSmxrZDecember 14, 2018

The discussion of crunch during the development of Red Dead Redemption 2 and the reported "bro culture" at Riot are just two of the high profile cases that have lead to calls for developers to unionise.