Those games anyone was waiting for? Uhh... You're gonna need to wait a whole lot longer...
Ubisoft is currently in quite the... precarious position, and these recent developments only amplify concerns about the company's direction moving forward. A strike among Ubisoft employees has put the spotlight on the company's controversial decision to cancel remote work...
French media outlets have covered the situation, interviewing long-time Ubisoft employees and union representatives who are baffled by the sudden change in policy. Shout out to Pirat_Nation on Twitter for the initial heads up:
The first employee, a nine-year veteran, voiced a bit of confusion over the decision, pointing out that productivity had not been an issue while working from home. His sentiments were echoed by many in the community—if remote work was effective, why disrupt it?
The second interviewee, a union representative, highlighted a deeper concern: that forcing employees back into the office would actually lead to further delays on critical projects, including Assassin’s Creed Shadows, a game already plagued by setbacks.
An often unspoken reason companies, like Ubisoft in this case, may decide to eliminate remote work is to encourage employees to quit voluntarily, thus avoiding the need to pay severance packages. It's evil af, but has been proven to work for especially large companies. Amazon is another that comes to mind where I've seen this take place previously. This kinda move is especially common when a company is facing financial difficulties but wants to avoid publicly admitting that it can't afford its expenses. By forcing a return to the office, companies can strategically 'reduce' staff without the public relations fallout of layoffs or the financial burden of severance payouts. It's a tactical maneuver that signals deeper financial trouble while flying under the radar, and in Ubisoft's case, this could be part of a broader effort to tighten its operations as it struggles with delayed projects and mounting pressure from investors... Not that anyone's really surprised that Ubisoft is struggling. A quick look at their stock price these days really does tell the whole story.
If developers with personal constraints, such as family obligations, are unable to return to the office, the resulting talent drain could have catastrophic consequences for the company’s pipeline of games. Ubisoft’s stock (above) has already taken a massive hit, and the growing unrest within the company looks to spell even further trouble.
The timing of this strike couldn’t be worse for Ubisoft, especially with the looming release of Assassin's Creed Shadows that was ALREADY delayed recently. As delays mount, so does uncertainty around the game's quality and future releases. Ubisoft is not only grappling with internal unrest... but also; with a rapidly shifting gaming landscape where the competition is delivering innovative experiences that resonate with gamers, something Ubisoft hasn’t consistently achieved in recent years.
There's a growing frustration with Ubisoft’s direction. Some argue that the real issue isn’t the developers but the upper management, which has been pushing out uninspired games year after year. Others have been far more skeptical, suggesting that working from home has contributed to a decline in the quality of Ubisoft’s output. Whether the truth lies in management decisions or workforce issues, one thing's clear here: the company is in absolute crisis mode at this point.
The indefinite nature of the strike adds to the uncertainty. A prolonged disruption in development jeopardizes not only Assassin's Creed Shadows but also the other high-profile projects in Ubisoft’s pipeline. With gamers losing faith and critics questioning Ubisoft's long-term viability, the pressure's mounting for the company to find a resolution that addresses both its employees' needs and its business goals. It doesn't look great right now, to put it nicely.
Ultimately, this strike is more than just a dispute over working conditions. It’s a moment that could define Ubisoft’s future. If they can’t resolve the internal tensions, they risk further alienating both their workforce and their audience. This situation could serve as a catalyst for broader changes within the company, but only if Ubisoft acknowledges the seriousness of the issues at hand. Don't hold your breath.
This is just the beginning of what looks to be a very long and difficult road ahead for Ubisoft. Whatever happens, the ripple effects of this strike will undoubtedly impact Ubisoft’s upcoming projects and the company’s standing in the industry... and personally, I don't see them recovering from it.
~Smash
Wow this is crazy I think this is going to make their stock to drop even further. I would not be surprised if we hear talks about them possibly going bankrupt unbelievable
Well, I guess they're taking Christmas vacation early this year.