Over 1,200 Ubisoft Employees Strike Amid Major Restructuring and Layoffs
In a significant show of labor unrest, more than 1,200 employees at Ubisoft have participated in a coordinated three-day international strike.
The industrial action follows Ubisoft’s announcement of a major organizational restructuring late last month, which involved several studio closures and the cancellation of six games.
The developments have raised concerns among Ubisoft’s global workforce and highlight ongoing challenges in the video game industry’s labor conditions. The strike, which started on February 10 and concluded on February 12, was organized chiefly by the Solidaires Informatique union, representing Ubisoft Paris, with additional participation from staff at Ubisoft Milan.
According to Solidaires Informatique union representative Marc Rutschlé, the main demonstrations took place in Paris, but the solidarity was felt internationally as workers across various studios voiced their concerns over recent company decisions. Rutschlé commented to Gamesindustry.biz that "the executive leadership, particularly CEO Yves Guillemot, appears disconnected from the reality faced by employees." He emphasized that Ubisoft is pressing ahead with aggressive cost reductions and layoffs.
Rutschlé further described the current working climate, stating that team members are "regularly operating under significant pressure and are often understaffed," noting that Ubisoft employees have not seen substantial pay increases in several years. A key grievance driving the strike was Ubisoft's newly-implemented return-to-office policy, which mandates all staff to be physically present at Ubisoft offices for five days each week.
The company justifies the move as necessary to "strengthen collective performance on AAA projects." However, this directive has been met with resistance, sparking previous walkouts—most recently in early 2024—when the mandate was first introduced, and again as part of the current broader industrial action. Prior to this larger walkout, Solidaires Informatique organized a smaller strike on January 22, immediately following the publication of Ubisoft’s restructuring plan.
The union claims that the ongoing decisions have further eroded morale among a workforce still recovering from years of intense project deadlines and pandemic-related disruptions. Today marks the official conclusion of the strike action, but the situation remains fluid as Ubisoft prepares to release further updates on its restructuring efforts.
As one of the world’s largest game developers and publishers, Ubisoft’s internal challenges are closely watched by industry professionals, shedding light on broader issues such as job security, remote work policies, and compensation in game development. Ubisoft’s restructuring is the latest in a series of high-profile industry overhauls aimed at adapting to shifting market conditions.
Attention now turns to how the company will address employee concerns and stabilize its operations following this period of significant upheaval.
The industrial action follows Ubisoft’s announcement of a major organizational restructuring late last month, which involved several studio closures and the cancellation of six games.
The developments have raised concerns among Ubisoft’s global workforce and highlight ongoing challenges in the video game industry’s labor conditions. The strike, which started on February 10 and concluded on February 12, was organized chiefly by the Solidaires Informatique union, representing Ubisoft Paris, with additional participation from staff at Ubisoft Milan.
According to Solidaires Informatique union representative Marc Rutschlé, the main demonstrations took place in Paris, but the solidarity was felt internationally as workers across various studios voiced their concerns over recent company decisions. Rutschlé commented to Gamesindustry.biz that "the executive leadership, particularly CEO Yves Guillemot, appears disconnected from the reality faced by employees." He emphasized that Ubisoft is pressing ahead with aggressive cost reductions and layoffs.
Rutschlé further described the current working climate, stating that team members are "regularly operating under significant pressure and are often understaffed," noting that Ubisoft employees have not seen substantial pay increases in several years. A key grievance driving the strike was Ubisoft's newly-implemented return-to-office policy, which mandates all staff to be physically present at Ubisoft offices for five days each week.
The company justifies the move as necessary to "strengthen collective performance on AAA projects." However, this directive has been met with resistance, sparking previous walkouts—most recently in early 2024—when the mandate was first introduced, and again as part of the current broader industrial action. Prior to this larger walkout, Solidaires Informatique organized a smaller strike on January 22, immediately following the publication of Ubisoft’s restructuring plan.
The union claims that the ongoing decisions have further eroded morale among a workforce still recovering from years of intense project deadlines and pandemic-related disruptions. Today marks the official conclusion of the strike action, but the situation remains fluid as Ubisoft prepares to release further updates on its restructuring efforts.
As one of the world’s largest game developers and publishers, Ubisoft’s internal challenges are closely watched by industry professionals, shedding light on broader issues such as job security, remote work policies, and compensation in game development. Ubisoft’s restructuring is the latest in a series of high-profile industry overhauls aimed at adapting to shifting market conditions.
Attention now turns to how the company will address employee concerns and stabilize its operations following this period of significant upheaval.
