"Ditch the boss and form a worker co-op" - DIG Gamedev Conference 2026

Esther Fraser, steering committee member of Game Makers 4 Co-operative Futures, presents their talk "Ditch the boss and form a worker co-op." 

From event page:
What if we got to make games more like we play them: with meaningful control over what we're doing? Existing hierarchical models of game studios offer less creative freedom and more concessions to the bottom line than workers want. Worker co-operatives put game makers in the driver's seat. While co-ops can't change the economic reality of all society, they give worker-members the tools to respond to it in the ways that are best for them. This talk will touch on the history of worker co-operatives and explore the ways in which co-op values guide studios towards a fairer, healthier and more representative video game industry. We’ll discuss the principles of worker co-operatives and outline how studios following them can operate as humane, worker-centred enterprises with strong artistic direction. More buy-in; less burn-out! 

Esther Fraser is a hobbyist game-maker living in Halifax/Kjipuktuk. She sits on the steering committee of Game Makers 4 Co-operative Futures. Though she sells her labour as a data analyst, she’s much more interested in the way games as an art medium make explicit the interaction between game maker, game & player. Her current project is an educational game for grades 1-6 exploring fundamental math skills. Game Makers 4 Co-operative Futures (GM4CF) is a networking and knowledge-sharing group advocating for worker-run videogame studios in the Atlantic Canadian region! Our mission is to bolster the local game development scene and inform people of how co-operative game studios might function as an alternative to the standard 'game studio' model: workers first rather than investors first! Through local events such as community-led game jam competitions, networking nights, fundraisers, event watch parties and attendance at regional conventions and conferences (Hal-con and XP Game Connect Atlantic included) we grow awareness and capacity for current and potential game developers and gamers alike around videogame co-ops! Visit our website at www.gamemakers4coopfutures.com and join our Discord for more co-operative resources and community online!