A strike by Ubisoft staff in France has expanded to Italy, with employees protesting the company’s order to work from the office at least three days a week.
French Strike Intensifies
Approximately 700 French staff members from Ubisoft offices in Paris, Montpellier, Lyon, and Annecy have been on strike since Tuesday. The dispute centers around the return-to-office (RTO) mandate and growing dissatisfaction with pay.
Italian Solidarity
Ubisoft staff in Milan joined the strike in solidarity, with the Fiom Cgil union calling a one-day strike for October 17. The union expressed concerns that the RTO mandate would force some employees to quit due to unsustainable commuting costs and disrupted work-life balance.
Union Demands
The French game workers union, STJV, demands:
1. Formal agreement on remote working and RTO obligations
2. Re-opening of salary negotiations
Ubisoft’s Challenges
The strike occurs amidst uncertainty surrounding a potential joint buyout by Tencent and the Guillemot family, which could make Ubisoft private. The company faces:
1. Declining share price
2. Delayed releases (Assassin’s Creed Shadows)
3. Poor game sales (Star Wars Outlaws)
Union Concerns
STJV representatives believe the RTO order may be a tactic to shed staff, particularly after profit-sharing talks broke down. They warn of:
1. Job losses
2. Disrupted game projects
3. Increased psychosocial risks
Global Gaming Industry Implications
The Ubisoft strike highlights the growing tension between game developers and publishers over working conditions, pay, and flexibility.