Employees at Assassin’s Creed publisher Ubisoft have engaged in a widespread international strike this week.
The three-day strike began on Tuesday, February 10 and concluded on Thursday, February 12.
Hundreds of employees across multiple divisions of the company participated in the action to express discontent with Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot and the company’s leadership.
The labor action follows the company’s announcement of a significant restructuring plan, including the cancellation and postponement of several projects less than a month ago.
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Marc Rutschlé, a union representative for Solidaires Informatiques at Ubisoft Paris, confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that over 1,200 Ubisoft employees participated in the strike on Tuesday alone.
This week’s strike was nearly double the size of the previous largest labor action by Ubisoft employees, which occurred in September 2024 when 700 members of a French union protested a mandate to reduce remote function options.
The latest strike began with French union workers responding to what they describe as “absurd decisions” from management.
The core of the striking workers consists of five unions, including some of the largest organizations in France:
- Confédération française de l’encadrement – Confédération générale des cadres (CFE-CGC)
- Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT)
- Printemps Ecologique
- Solidaires Informatique
- Syndicat des Travailleureuses du Jeu Vidéo (STJV)
The French union Solidaires Informatique initially led the resistance following management decisions announced in January. Discontent then spread to several of Ubisoft’s international subsidiaries and offices.
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The other four unions joined in a collective protest, issuing a joint statement to Ubisoft leadership and employees prior to this week’s action.
The strike has now spread throughout Ubisoft’s international organization, with the largest participation coming from the French division, and significant support from employees at Ubisoft’s Milan offices.
Union leader Rutschlé has previously told GamesIndustry.biz that “at this point it seems clear to us that Yves Guillemot has no knowledge of or understanding of the company or its employees.”
This statement followed Guillemot’s announcement of the company’s restructuring plans in January, which prompted Solidaires Informatique to stage a half-day strike immediately afterward.
“The company is continuing its plan for cost reductions and layoffs. Our teams are already working under pressure, often with insufficient staffing. After several years without salary increases (or very small increases), we are being told that employees will not receive a raise again this year.”
“From our union’s point of view, this forced reversal is a disguised downsizing plan, intended to push employees out of the company.”
“The atmosphere in the studio is particularly dismal, fueled by anger and despair. […] Union representatives have witnessed several people breaking down in tears – some colleagues have made suicidal comments. If Guillemot wanted to see people crushed, he could not have done better.”
