Staff at French developer Quantic Dream have reportedly gone on strike, expressing concerns over the future of the highly anticipated Star Wars Eclipse. The walkout is tied to a larger plan that could see significant layoffs at the studio following the recent cancelation of its live service game, Spellcasters Chronicles.
Quantic Dream, known for narrative-driven titles like Heavy Rain and Detroit: Become Human, canceled Spellcasters Chronicles just three months after its early access launch. While the studio initially stated that Star Wars Eclipse development would remain unaffected, a new report from French outlet Gamekult suggests the project is facing substantial issues, including a "lack of resources, vision, and progress."
Approximately 115 employees, representing about a quarter of Quantic Dream's workforce, are reportedly at risk of layoffs following the Spellcasters Chronicles cancelation. The union STJV has organized a strike, which took place on June 25 in front of the studio's Paris headquarters. Striking staff are reportedly aiming to prevent the redundancy plan, believing that developers from Spellcasters Chronicles are essential for Star Wars Eclipse to reach completion without resorting to crunch.
Coinciding with the strike, a delegation from Lucasfilm was expected to visit Quantic Dream to assess the progress of Star Wars Eclipse. The striking employees intend to convey that the game cannot be finished if the proposed layoffs go through, describing the situation as a threat of "painful cancellation" hanging over the employees.
This situation unfolds against a backdrop of broader concerns for Quantic Dream. In 2022, NetEase acquired the studio as a wholly owned subsidiary. While Quantic Dream CEO Guillaume de Fondaumière assured staff and fans last year that its Paris and Montreal studios remained unaffected by layoffs and closures within other NetEase divisions, and that development on current projects was progressing, details on Star Wars Eclipse have remained scarce. The game, announced in 2021, is set during the High Republic era and aims to blend Quantic Dream's signature storytelling with action-adventure gameplay, but it still lacks a release window five years after its initial reveal.