The Arkane union has charged Microsoft with "sabotaging" Marvel's Blade due to a hiring freeze that lasted for 19 months

The Syndicat des travailleureuses du jeu vidéo (STJV), a union in France, has accused Microsoft of interfering in the development of Marvel's Blade. The union claims that a hiring freeze lasting over a year and a half has led to project delays, and these delays are now being cited by Microsoft as a reason to potentially close Arkane Lyon studio.

In a recent statement, the STJV emphasized that Blade's development is progressing well, and the game is expected to maintain Arkane's high standards. They allege that Microsoft's imposed hiring freeze resulted in setbacks and additional costs, which are being used as justification for closing the studio.

The union remarked, "Today, even though work on Blade is progressing fine, our studio might be forced to shut down solely due to Microsoft's decision, potentially harming the very game they financially backed," highlighting Microsoft’s stance as the issue.

STJV further argued that Arkane remains a profitable entity, though not to Microsoft's satisfaction, suggesting shutting it down could be more costly than completing the Blade project.

The fate of Arkane Lyon’s 217 employees, along with other staff such as contractors, hangs in the balance unless a new owner is found. Microsoft had initially set a deadline for the studio's sale for November 13, which was later extended to December 13.

The STJV is demanding input from workers in the decision-making process for any potential buyer and proposes a fund to safeguard employees laid off within two years of a change in ownership. They also seek a redundancy package of $223,000 (€200,000) per person, in addition to Microsoft backing reemployment initiatives for two years if closure occurs. At the time of publication, Microsoft had not answered the union's claims.

Arkane, established in 1999, is known for creating the Dishonored and Prey games and was integrated into Microsoft following its 2021 ZeniMax acquisition. The company had previously closed Arkane’s Austin branch in 2024.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that Ubisoft is exploring the purchase of Arkane Lyon after Xbox extended its consultation period regarding the studio's future.

Simultaneously, Ubisoft is reorganizing its operations, structuring its teams into six distinct "Creative Houses" to optimize its production capabilities.