Ubisoft, a major video game publisher, faces growing unrest as five unions in France have called for an international strike involving all company employees. The strike, which is planned for February 10-13, coincides with urgency around recent management decisions that affect working conditions and job security. This protest marks a significant step for Ubisoft’s workforce, who are responding to the sudden restructuring, the closure of multiple studios, game cancellations—including Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time—and a unified demand for employees to return to the office full-time. Employees seek more transparent and accountable management practices, emphasizing that their labor drives the company’s success. The scheduled strike overlaps with Ubisoft’s forthcoming financial report, a timing that underscores the unions’ intention to highlight their concerns on a global stage.
News about Ubisoft’s ongoing labor tensions has surfaced several times over the past year. Earlier coverage of studio closures, especially of Ubisoft Halifax—the first North American studio set to unionize—elicited concerns about management’s approach to labor relations and restructuring strategies. Reports have frequently noted discontent among staff about shifting remote work policies and a perception that upper management imposes abrupt operational changes without sufficient input from employees. Recent developments reflect a broader pattern, as previous union actions and negotiations have had mixed outcomes, particularly in regions with less established union protection than France. The escalation to an international strike demonstrates a shift from local dissatisfaction to a synchronized, cross-border initiative.
How are Unions Responding to Recent Restructuring?
Unions have reacted with coordinated action after Ubisoft’s decision to cancel several projects, lay off more staff, and enforce a full-time return to office across its studios. Representatives from CFE-CGC, CGT, Printemps écologique, Le Syndicat des Travailleureuses du Jeu Vidéo, and Solidaires Informatique stress what they see as arbitrary management moves and disregard for previously negotiated remote work agreements. Pointing to the termination of 200 jobs at the Paris headquarters, union leaders have intensified calls for accountability.
We are promised autonomy for Creative Houses, but what about autonomy for employees? Five days of mandatory in-office work: We are treated like children who need to be supervised, while our management gets away with lies and breaking the law,
the unions declared jointly.
What Do Employees and Unions Seek from Management?
Employee advocates assert that their primary demand is for respect in the workplace and meaningful input on decisions that affect them directly. While management presents restructuring as a strategic move, workers see it as disruptive, citing abrupt shifts in office attendance policy after a year of difficult negotiations. The unions warn that the imposed agreements leave some staff at risk of unpredictable management decisions, especially those without formalized remote work arrangements. They express concerns about the broader impact of these policies on morale, job stability, and overall trust in leadership.
It is time for our management to understand that they cannot do whatever they want, whether with public money or the work of hundreds of people!
Could a Global Strike Affect Ubisoft’s International Studios?
French studios benefit from robust union protections, meaning staff participation in strikes carries relatively low risk. However, such legal and cultural safeguards are less prevalent in Ubisoft’s international branches, particularly in Canada. The closure of Ubisoft Halifax, shortly after unionizing, stands as an example of the risks for non-French employees considering industrial action. While large studios in Montreal and Toronto are unlikely to face immediate shutdown, concerns linger that corporate leadership may look for other measures to mitigate strike effects. The global nature of this strike call distinguishes it from earlier, more localized actions, marking a new phase in labor-management dynamics at Ubisoft.
As Ubisoft approaches the announcement of its latest quarterly financial results, labor tensions remain high. The overlap between the planned strike and the financial report suggests strategic intent by labor organizations to leverage public and investor attention. Comparatively, the recurring pattern of pushback against restructuring and remote work policy changes signals persistent contention between staff and leadership. Employees’ demands focus on input into decision-making and stability during transitions, not only in France but also in other regions. In volatile industries like video game development, where layoffs and shifting work models occur frequently, sustained labor coordination—especially across national lines—could influence how similar disputes unfold at global companies.
