Ubisoft Employees Stage Global Strike Over Job Cuts and Return-to-Office Policy
Ubisoft employees are currently in the midst of a three-day strike, which kicked off yesterday with over 1,200 workers participating, primarily from France and Milan. This action follows the company’s recent return-to-office (RTO) mandate, plans to cut around 200 jobs, and a significant restructuring that resulted in the delay of seven upcoming games and the outright cancellation of six titles, including the much-anticipated remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Additionally, a long-time developer from the Assassin’s Creed team was let go after voicing concerns about these decisions on social media. In response, employees are taking a stand.
In a joint statement shared on Bluesky, five French unions have called for international Ubisoft staff to join the walkout from February 10-12. With approximately 17,000 employees worldwide across Europe, North America, and Asia, the unions emphasized the need for management to recognize that they cannot act without accountability, whether it involves public funds or the efforts of countless individuals.
Ubisoft’s leadership has mandated that all remaining employees return to the office five days a week. The unions have criticized this RTO policy, stating, “We are treated like children that need to be supervised, while our management gets away with lies and breaking the law.”
Following recent studio closures, project cancellations, and game delays—described by Ubisoft as a “major organizational, operational, and portfolio reset”—the company confirmed plans to cut up to 200 jobs, which represents about 18% of the 1,100 staff at its Paris headquarters. This will be done through a Rupture Conventionnelle Collective (RCC) process, allowing unionized employees to negotiate their severance terms collectively. Ubisoft has labeled this restructuring as an “acceleration of cost-reduction initiatives.” As of January 25, the company’s stock price had fallen to its lowest point in 15 years.
The RTO mandate has faced significant backlash, particularly from employees who work remotely and live far from the nearest office. For many, this requirement feels like an impossible demand, with some perceiving it as a way for Ubisoft to push them out without offering severance.
“Many workers were hired with fully remote contracts and live hours away from the office,” a representative from the French union Syndicat des travailleurs et travailleuses du jeu vidéo (SJTV) commented on the RTO mandate. “For them, this policy change means there is no option but to leave.”
Social media has been buzzing with images and videos from the strike, including footage from Milan showing Ubisoft employees dancing in the rain as they protest.
The news of the strike first emerged on January 27. The unions involved include CGT, la CFE-CGC, Printemps écologique, Solidaires Informatique, and Syndicat des travailleurs et travailleuses du jeu vidéo (STJV).
