Ubisoft Faces Major Employee Strike with 1,200 Workers Protesting Layoffs and Mandatory Office Returns

Image Credit: Solidaires Informatique

At least 1,200 Ubisoft employees have walked out in a three-day strike this week to protest against the company's recent cost-cutting measures, studio closures, and mandatory return-to-office policy.

The strike began on February 10 and is set to continue through February 12, 2026.

Marc Rutschlé, a union representative from Solidaires Informatique at Ubisoft Paris, confirmed the participation numbers to GamesIndustry.biz. He revealed that while the strike was predominantly centered in France, employees at Ubisoft Milan also joined the protest in solidarity.

The walkout comes as a direct response to what workers are calling poor management decisions and a lack of understanding from company leadership.

Hundreds of frustrated employees gathered outside Ubisoft's Paris headquarters, brandishing banners and flags to voice their concerns. Among the striking workers, one held a sign reading "From offices to courts, no respite for the Guillemots," taking aim at CEO Yves Guillemot and his family members who also hold positions within the company.

Another protester, wearing a Rabbids mask to hide their identity, displayed a sign stating "There is money in the coffers of the employers!"

Meanwhile in Milan, striking staff brought their own creative flair to the protest, with signs declaring "Shareholders cannot make games" and "Don't play with our lives."

This latest strike follows an earlier protest held by Solidaires Informatique on January 22, which the union described as a response to "the absurdity of management's decisions." Just a day before that protest, Ubisoft had announced its final round of cost-cutting on January 21.

This announcement included the closure of multiple studios and the cancellation of six games in development. Among those scrapped projects, only one was publicly named: the long-awaited Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake that fans had been anticipating for years.

"At this stage, it seems clear to us that Yves Guillemot has no knowledge or understanding of his company or its employees," Rutschlé said in a statement. "The company is continuing its cost reduction and layoff plan. Our teams are already working under pressure, often understaffed. After several years without pay rises (or very small increases), we understand that once again, employees will not receive a raise this year."

The strikes aren't just about job cuts and cancelled games though. A major sticking point for workers is Ubisoft's new mandate requiring staff to work on-site five days a week. Back in September 2024, over 700 workers at Ubisoft France staged a similar three-day strike specifically targeting the company's office attendance policy.