Microsoft has been accused of "sabotaging" the development of Marvel's Blade to justify the closure of Arkane Lyon
The French union STJV leveled criticism at Microsoft, claiming that the corporation itself created financial problems for Arkane Lyon.
Marvel’s Blade
According to activists, Microsoft hindered Arkane Lyon's work on Marvel’s Blade. Specifically, it imposed a 19-month hiring freeze at the studio, leading to artificial delays in the game's development and increased costs. However, these very difficulties are what the corporation now cites as justification for the decision to close the studio.
Meanwhile, STJV assures that the development of Marvel’s Blade is currently proceeding well, with the expected quality of the game aligning with the studio's previous projects.
The union also stated that Arkane Lyon remains a profitable studio; however, its financial performance does not satisfy Microsoft. In STJV's view, the corporation acts based on an "inhumane logic" and is ready to dispose of the French developers even if closing the studio might cost more than continuing the production and release of Marvel’s Blade.
As a reminder, Arkane Lyon has faced the threat of closure since the summer of 2026. Microsoft is exploring different options for the studio's future, including a sale — earlier, it extended the consultation period on this matter by a month, until December 13th. If Arkane Lyon cannot be saved, 217 employees could lose their jobs, along with numerous contractors. All details of the process are unknown, but Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier discovered that Arkane Lyon already has at least three potential buyers. One of them is Ubisoft.
STJV demands to grant developers the right to participate in choosing a new owner for Arkane Lyon. Additionally, the union calls for the creation of an employee protection fund in case of layoffs within two years after the studio's sale, and in the event of Arkane Lyon's closure, it asks for each dismissed employee to be compensated with 200,000 euros.