Ubisoft workers threaten strike

Ubisoft’s Paris studio has been called on to strike over recent comments its CEO made in a memo if conditions and pay don’t improve.

A union representing digital workers in France has called on Ubisoft Paris workers to strike following what it describes as a “catastrophic communication” from the company’s CEO in a memo.

The memo, as reported by Kotaku, was penned by Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, and reportedly asked employees to work harder to make sure future projects would be delivered on time and under budget.

“Today more than ever, I need your full energy and commitment to ensure we get back on the path to success,” Guillemot said, “I am also asking each of “you be especially careful and strategic with your spending and initiatives, to ensure we’re being as efficient and lean as possible.”

Guillemot also reportedly told staff that “the ball was in [their] court” to deliver future projects on time and “at the expected level of quality”.

The Ubisoft Paris branch of digital workers union Solidaires Informatique claims that Guillemot is shifting the blame and responsibility of the studio onto the workers, which could lead to overtime, managerial pressure, and burnout (thanks, Game Developer).

Ubisoft develops and publishes a number of games, including Just Dance. Picture: Ubisoft

“Mr. Guillemot asks a lot from his employees, but without any compensation,” Solidaires Informatique wrote, “Have salaries kept up with the high inflation of recent years? What about the implementation of the four-day week? What has been put in place for the teams that come out of productions exhausted?”

The union has asked Ubisoft to immediately increase the salaries of all staff by ten per cent, to compensate for inflation and the increased workload required, saying that “there is money in the coffers of employers” following an investment from Chinese tech conglomerate Tencent last year.

“Because Mr. Guillemot and his clique only understand the relationship of power,” the union continued, “Solidaires Informatique is calling on the employees of Ubisoft Paris to go on strike on Friday 27 January in the afternoon, from 2 to 6 pm”.

Pirate game Skull and Bones has been in “development hell” for six years at Ubisoft. Picture: Ubisoft

It comes after a big Ubisoft game, Skull and Bones, was delayed for a sixth time, alongside the cancellation of three unannounced titles. The games were cancelled as a result of underperformance in the company, after Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope and Just Dance 2023 sold fewer copies than expected.

That’s despite the newest Just Dance game being the most accessible yet, with a host of new accessibility options including changes to the game’s user interface and options to play some songs while seated.

Written by Oliver Brandt on behalf of GLHF.