TL;DR
- Unions call Ubisoft strike Feb 10-12.
- Fight layoffs, office return, cuts.
- Demand real dialogue, worker respect.
Ubisoft is facing a full-on rebellion from its workers. Five major French unions, STJV, CFE-CGC, CGT, Printemps Ecologique, and Solidaires Informatique, just dropped a joint statement calling for "a massive international strike."
This comes right after a brutal week for the company. Last week, Ubisoft unveiled a huge restructuring plan. They confirmed canceling six games, including the long-awaited Prince of Persia remake. Seven others got pushed back. Plus, they mandated a full return to in-office work and kicked off what they call a "final" wave of layoffs and studio closures. The goal? Save €200 million.
Then, earlier this week, things heated up more. Ubisoft proposed cutting 200 roles from its International division in Paris. They're rolling out a voluntary redundancy program, and negotiations with unions are supposed to happen next.
The unions aren't holding back in their statement. They say there's been "no dialogue or respect" between Ubisoft management and union reps. "The announced transformation claims to place games at the heart of its strategy, but without us, these games cannot exist."
They're pushing for a strike on February 10, 11, 12 in protest. It's aimed at saying "no to [Ubisoft management's] anti-remote-work obsession, to 'cost-cutting' plans on employees' backs, to top-down decisions, to coercive control on our working conditions."
The frustration boils over into accusations of poor communication. Staff supposedly found out about the cuts "at the same time as the press." None of it went through the required union consultations just days before. "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."These unions point out they've been haggling over remote work policies for over a year, often in tough talks. Some studios already had agreements in place.
What’s Going Wrong at Ubisoft Recently?
Ubisoft's troubles didn't start overnight. They've been piling up, hitting the company hard in 2025 and now exploding into 2026.
Here's the breakdown:
Flop after flop on games: Titles like Star Wars Outlaws and Skull and Bones bombed at launch, leaving fans and investors furious. Franchise fatigue is real, with Assassin's Creed feeling stale to many.
Financial nightmare: Stock crashed 33% in one day after the restructuring news, wiping out billions in market value. They're forecasting a €1 billion loss for fiscal year 2025-2026. Shares at record lows.
Restructuring chaos: Beyond the six canceled games (RIP Prince of Persia remake), seven delays, studio shutdowns, and layoffs across the board. Now Ubisoft Paris cut of 200 jobs via "voluntary" exits.
Internal mess and scandals: Years of delays, leadership drama, and now this forced return-to-office amid remote work deals.
It's a perfect storm. Gamers are bailing, money's drying up, and employees are done.
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