The French Syndicat des Travailleureuses du Jeu Vidéo (STJV) union has called for a national strike across the country's video game industry on June 25th. This action is a direct response to the ongoing wave of layoffs impacting the sector, with the union urging striking workers to "demand major organisational changes within their companies."
The strike, dubbed "Summer Greve Fest," is set to commence with a picket line outside the Paris headquarters of Quantic Dream, the studio behind titles like Detroit: Become Human. The union states that the company is planning to eliminate approximately 115 jobs as part of an "internal reorganisation," which Quantic Dream confirmed is underway following the decision to cease development on the free-to-play MOBA Spellcasters Chronicles last month.
However, the STJV emphasized that the issues extend beyond a single studio. The union has previously accused major publishers such as Ubisoft and Nacon, the publisher of Greedfall, of mismanagement in connection with layoffs and studio closures that occurred earlier this year.
In a statement, the STJV declared that "This crisis was avoidable, but our bosses chose to drive blindly towards disaster." The union criticized industry leaders for failing to train and retain a skilled workforce, engaging in "repeated abuse against workers," maintaining a "deep-seated stance against unions," demonstrating "incompetence in project management," and an "inability to listen to warnings." These factors, they argue, have directly led to the current critical situation.
The union also pointed to the government's role, suggesting that by subsidizing the industry without adequate oversight, it has encouraged "a harmful and unsustainable economic and social system." This, the STJV contends, has put the country's leading cultural sector at risk of collapse.
Furthermore, the STJV highlighted the emerging threats of generative AI and increased outsourcing as additional pressures contributing to the necessity of this strike. The union aims to prevent further deterioration of working conditions within the French games industry.