A French video game union has accused Xbox of actively "sabotaging" Arkane Studios, the developer behind Dishonored and Deathloop, as the studio faces a potential closure and attempts to finish its current project, Marvel's Blade. The union, Syndicat des Travailleureuses du Jeu Vidéo (STJV), stated in an open letter that Microsoft's actions, including a prolonged hiring freeze, have "artificially caused delay and additional cost" to the development of Blade.
STJV argues that closing Arkane, a 25-year-old studio, would be more expensive than completing the game. The union highlighted that 217 employees would be affected by such a closure. Microsoft has been seeking a buyer for Arkane, with reports indicating that Ubisoft and other entities have submitted bids. The company also explored a management buyout.
According to the union, Arkane is a profitable studio, though perhaps not to the degree Microsoft desires. STJV claims that the decision to close the studio is driven by a pursuit of "maximum profit optimization" rather than the studio's performance. "We want our studio to live on and produce games, we want to finish Blade and release it to the players, as well as the many games the future holds for Arkane," the union wrote.
In the event that a sale does not materialize, STJV is calling for Microsoft to provide significant redundancy packages, estimated at approximately $225,000 per employee, along with other post-employment benefits.