A French games industry union reports widespread “anger and despair” among Ubisoft employees after the company’s recent restructuring plan.
Solidaires Informatique, the union, organized a strike on January 22, describing it as an initial response to management’s “absurd” decisions. Le Monde reported approximately ten attendees at the protest. Solidaires Informatique confirmed intentions for further actions, both in France and internationally, in collaboration with other Ubisoft unions.
The union’s demands include halting Ubisoft’s cost-cutting measures, preserving and expanding remote work options, and ensuring “decent pay rises” for the current year.
Marc Rutschlé, a Solidaires Informatique union representative at Ubisoft Paris, stated that Yves Guillemot appears to lack understanding of his company or its employees. Rutschlé noted that the company continues its cost reduction and layoff plans, with teams already under pressure and often understaffed. He added that after years of minimal or no pay raises, employees are not expected to receive a raise this year. Concurrently, the reorganization is reportedly creating numerous high-level positions with excessive salaries.
Ubisoft has also mandated a full-time, five-day-a-week return to the office for all staff, citing a desire to “boost the collective performance of AAA” projects. This follows a three-day strike in September 2024, where over 700 Ubisoft France employees protested the company’s return-to-office policy.
Rutschlé indicated that employees are worried about job losses if they cannot comply with the mandatory in-office work schedule. He characterized this forced return as a “disguised redundancy plan” designed to encourage employees to leave the company.
Overall, Rutschlé described the studio’s atmosphere as “particularly deplorable,” marked by “anger and despair.” He added that staff representatives have observed multiple emotional breakdowns and heard suicidal comments from colleagues, suggesting that management’s actions have significantly impacted employee well-being.
