The French video game industry union STJV issued an open letter accusing Microsoft of freezing hiring for 19 months, causing delays and increased costs in the development of "Marvel's Blade," and then using these consequences as an economic justification for potentially closing Arkane Lyon. The future arrangements for both the studio and the game remain undecided.
STJV stated that the development of "Marvel's Blade" is "progressing smoothly," with quality comparable to Arkane's previous works. The union also argued that the cost of closing the studio could be higher than letting the team complete the project, claiming that Arkane is still profitable, just not at the level Microsoft seeks. The above points are allegations and judgments from the union; Microsoft has not confirmed them.
Under French law, the studio must be given the opportunity to find a buyer before closing. Arkane has currently attracted potential bidders, including Ubisoft, but the final outcome remains uncertain. STJV stated that if no reliable offer is made, the studio's closure will affect 217 employees.
Regarding the ongoing acquisition negotiations, STJV has requested that Microsoft allow employee representatives and the union to participate in the selection of potential buyers and establish a protection fund to address the risk of layoffs due to economic reasons by the buyer within the following 24 months. If Arkane ultimately closes, the union demands a severance package of €200,000 per employee, two years of reemployment support and training provided by Microsoft, shared resources needed to create new studios, and compensation for independent contractors whose contracts are terminated.