A French union representing workers at Arkane Lyon has accused Microsoft of sabotaging development of Marvel’s Blade, claiming a 19-month hiring freeze caused the delays now being used to justify the studio’s closure.
In a statement published today, the Syndicat des travailleureuses du jeu vidéo (STJV) said work on Blade is “going fine” and that the game is on track to meet Arkane’s usual quality. It argued that the freeze had led to delays and extra costs, which Microsoft is now allegedly citing as an economic reason to shut the studio.
“Today, as work on Blade is going fine, and the level of quality of the game to be expected is on [par] with what Arkane has accustomed its players, workers have to face the harsh reality: our studio might get closed because, and only because, Microsoft decided to, even if that means sabotaging the game it funded,” the union said.
STJV added that “Arkane is profitable. Just not profitable enough for Microsoft,” and claimed that closing the studio now “would probably be more expensive than finishing the game.”
The Lyon studio’s 217 staff, along with contractors and freelancers, face losing their jobs unless a buyer is found. Last month, Microsoft set a November 13 deadline for a sale, which a Microsoft representative later said had been extended by a month, to December 13.
The union is calling for workers to have a say in choosing any buyer, and for a fund to protect staff laid off by a new owner within two years. If the studio does close, it wants a $223,000 (€200,000) redundancy payment per worker and two years of Microsoft-funded redeployment support. Microsoft had not responded to the union’s claims at the time of writing.
Founded in 1999, Arkane is best known for the Dishonored series and Prey. It became part of Microsoft through its acquisition of ZeniMax in 2021. Xbox closed Arkane’s Austin studio in 2024.
Earlier today, we reported that Ubisoft is reportedly seeking to acquire Arkane Lyon following an extension of its consultation period with Xbox.
Ubisoft is currently undertaking a restructuring of its own, as it continues to organize its studios into six “Creative Houses.”