The French game industry union, Solidaires Informatique, has blasted Ubisoft chief Yves Guillemot after a bold company shake-up. The firm split into five new Creative Houses, a move that caused six projects to be canceled and seven more to slide. The union says the changes show a real gap in understanding how the business runs and what staff need. Morale is said to be at a low ebb, with workers angry and stressed by the new direction and heavy workloads in thinner teams.
A Change That Shook Ubisoft’s Core
The major reset reimagines how Ubisoft organizes itself, dividing work into five creative hubs. It aims to speed up decisions and bring more focus to each project, but the effects have been far from smooth. Inside the walls of Ubisoft Paris, staff describe a tense atmosphere as teams scramble to reallocate tasks and keep progress moving. The plan has produced not just project delays, but also a sense that some roles now carry bigger responsibilities without clear support.
What Workers Want Next
The union has laid out three clear asks to stop the slide. First, they want the aggressive cost-cutting push halted now. Second, they call for a solid, lasting remote-work policy to stay in place. Third, they demand true pay increases to reflect the work being put in. Workers point to years without real raises, even as new, high-salary positions pop up in the reorganization. This gap fuels growing frustration among staff who feel the firm’s finances are being strained more than their own paychecks reflect.
Stock Market Effects and a Fractured Climate
The shake-up has touched more than just the studio walls. Ubisoft’s share price has dropped to its lowest point since 2011. In eight years, the company has shed a large slice of its value, a figure the union cites as a sign of weak leadership. People inside say the internal chats show a strained mood. Some workers have already started looking for other roles online, signaling a broader sense of unease about where the company goes from here.
What This Means for Ubisoft’s Future
The move toward five Creative Houses has stirred questions about how Ubisoft will keep releasing strong games. A split structure can spark fresh ideas, but it also risks miscommunication and added stress for teams that must cross over for big launches. The union argues that the current path may not match the health of the company or the real needs of its staff. As Ubisoft tries to steady its course, observers watch for signs of a more open dialogue with workers and clearer paths to stable, fair pay.
Industry Stakes and Possible Outcomes
This dispute sits at a moment when many big publishers weigh how to balance speed, creativity, and cost. Ubisoft must show it can protect projects while supporting the people who make them. If talks with Solidaires Informatique move forward, a plan that rebuilds trust could appear soon. If not, the company risks more talent leaving and continued public doubt about its leadership. The next steps will shape not only Ubisoft’s lineup but the broader mood around jobs in the gaming world.
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