The French video game industry is staging a historic strike to demand better working conditions, an end to layoffs, and greater transparency. Organized by the Video Game Workers Union (STJV), the movement is supported by various unions and aims to gather workers in multiple cities. Amid industry downturns and significant layoffs, employees are increasingly vocal about toxic environments and sexism. The STJV has gained membership rapidly, reflecting a growing awareness among workers of their rights within the sector.
French Video Game Sector to Strike for Workers’ Rights
In a historic move, the French video game industry is organizing a strike on Thursday to protest against poor working conditions and job cuts amidst a challenging period for the sector. The Video Game Workers Union (STJV) is spearheading this initiative, urging employees to gather in nearly ten cities, including Paris, Bordeaux, and Rennes. The movement has gained traction, with support from various union organizations both in France and internationally, including participation from the Ubisoft studio in Barcelona, Spain.
Rallying for Change in the Industry
“We anticipate a substantial turnout,” stated Vincent Cambedouzou, a delegate from the STJV at Ubisoft Paris, expressing hopes for thousands of protesters to join the cause. The video game sector in France employs between 12,000 and 15,000 individuals. Key demands include an end to layoffs, improved working conditions, and increased transparency in company operations and finances. Cambedouzou voiced his frustration, saying, “There are individuals making detrimental decisions that have led our industry to this state, and yet we are the ones being asked to bear the consequences.”
After experiencing a boom during lockdowns, when game sales skyrocketed, the industry has faced a downturn for almost two years, characterized by frequent layoffs and studio closures. Recently, significant social movements have emerged within the sector, marking a change in what was once a relatively calm industry climate.
In October, Ubisoft, which employs around 18,000 globally (including 4,000 in France), saw nearly a thousand employees protest against changes to their telework policy. The company, struggling with disappointing game launches, is expected to reveal poorer-than-anticipated financial results for its third fiscal quarter on Thursday. Additionally, it has postponed the release of its highly anticipated game “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” to March and has shut down several studios worldwide in recent months.
Another studio facing challenges is Don’t Nod, which recently experienced a strike following the announcement of a layoff plan affecting 69 out of 250 employees at its Paris location. An agreement was later reached to “favor voluntary departures and minimize forced layoffs,” according to management’s statement to AFP, following a period of heightened social tension.
In September, workers from the Spiders and Kylotonn studios, both under the French publisher Nacon, also participated in strikes to voice their concerns over working conditions, including fears of burnout and chaotic schedules. “It was a natural progression for everyone to unite at this moment,” remarked Cambedouzou. Once regarded as a “creative and artisanal” field, video gaming is increasingly perceived as “an industry like any other,” explained economist Julien Pillot, an expert in cultural industries. He noted that “hundreds, if not thousands” of employees are awakening to the reality that they have become just like workers in any other sector.
Beyond economic challenges, this strike seeks to highlight various abuses within the industry. The STJV has been actively sharing numerous anonymous accounts from industry employees on social media, portraying what they describe as a toxic work environment and instances of sexism in certain companies. Established in 2017 and now present in approximately twenty French studios, the union has seen a remarkable surge in membership, which is expected to reach nearly a thousand soon.