The French video game union STJV says Microsoft could spend more closing Arkane Lyon than it would take to finish and release Marvel’s Blade. In a statement on the union’s website, it said development was “going fine” and described the game as being on track to match Arkane’s acclaimed work. The union argued that parting ways with the studio would amount to “sabotaging the game it funded.”
Arkane was recently given until December to find a buyer and secure its future, following job cuts and divestments across Xbox’s first-party studios. Ubisoft is reportedly among the companies interested in acquiring the studio, known for Dishonored and Prey, but no deal has been finalised.
The union blamed some of Arkane’s difficulties on Microsoft, saying a hiring freeze lasting more than a year increased the game’s budget and contributed to internal delays. It said Microsoft was now using those delays and additional costs as a reason to close the studio.
STJV’s demands include giving employees a say in selecting a potential buyer and protections against layoffs in the coming years. If acquisition talks fail, the union is seeking a redundancy payment of €200,000 per employee, along with further support. It described the resources in Microsoft’s existing redundancy package as “outrageously low.”
Other studios affected by Xbox cuts include Double Fine, Compulsion Games and Undead Labs, which secured their independence but laid off some staff. The report also says the future looks uncertain for Ninja Theory, the developer of Hellblade.
Sources: Eurogamer.