France’s Syndicat des Travailleureuses du Jeu Vidéo (STJV) has accused Microsoft of undermining development of Marvel’s Blade at Arkane and then using the resulting delays and costs to justify closing the studio. Arkane was among the studios affected by the latest round of cuts at Xbox, but its future remains unresolved.
The union said work on Blade is progressing well and that the game is in line with Arkane’s previous titles. It argued that the studio could be at risk solely because Microsoft has chosen to close it, even if that decision harms a game the company funded.
STJV said Microsoft had frozen hiring for 19 months, creating delays and additional expenses, and then cited those same issues as economic reasons for closing Arkane. The union also argued that shutting the studio could cost more than allowing it to finish Blade, and described Arkane as profitable, though not profitable enough for Microsoft.
The union wants employees and their representatives to have a role in choosing a potential buyer during acquisition discussions. It also called for a protection fund offering compensation on the level of France’s PSE scheme if a buyer makes workers redundant for economic reasons within 24 months.
If Arkane does close, STJV is demanding a €200,000 redundancy payment, two years of Microsoft-funded redeployment support, shared resources for training and starting studios, and compensation for independent workers whose contracts are breached. The union says Microsoft should take responsibility for the consequences of its decision and provide support beyond the legal minimum.
A recent report indicated that Arkane might still find a new owner. Microsoft had not responded to the union’s demands at the time of the report.
Sources: PC Gamer.