Hundreds of Ubisoft Employees Stage Walkout Across Offices

Strikes highlight growing discontent among game developers over restructuring plans and working conditions

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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A wave of strikes has swept through Ubisoft, the publisher behind the Assassin's Creed franchise, as hundreds of employees across international offices walked out in protest over the company's recent restructuring plans, including the cancellation of several projects. The three-day strike, which concluded on February 12th, was spearheaded by five French unions and represents a growing unrest among game developers worldwide over issues like limited wage increases, 'crunch' culture, and a perceived lack of understanding from company leadership.

Why it matters

The Ubisoft strikes underscore broader industry-wide concerns about job security, work-life balance, and the emotional toll of game development. As the cost of game production rises and companies focus on cost-cutting measures, developers are increasingly seeking greater collective bargaining power through unionization efforts to improve their working conditions and have a stronger voice in the direction of the companies they work for.

The details

The immediate trigger for the latest walkout was Ubisoft's announcement of a significant restructuring plan in January, which included the cancellation and postponement of several projects, sparking fears of job losses and increased workload for remaining staff. However, the unrest runs deeper, with employees reportedly frustrated by years of limited wage increases and a perceived lack of understanding from CEO Yves Guillemot regarding the pressures faced by development teams.

  • The three-day strike concluded on February 12th, 2026.
  • In September 2024, a previous Ubisoft strike involving 700 members of a French union focused on reduced home office access.

The players

Ubisoft

A major video game publisher known for the Assassin's Creed franchise and other popular titles.

Yves Guillemot

The CEO of Ubisoft, who employees feel lacks understanding of the pressures faced by development teams.

Solidaires Informatiques

A French union that initially led the resistance following Ubisoft's January restructuring announcements.

CFE-CGC, CGT, Printemps Ecologique, STJV

Four other French unions that joined the strikes, demonstrating a rare level of unity within the French labor movement.

Marc Rutschlé

A representative from Solidaires Informatiques who stated that Yves Guillemot has no knowledge or understanding of the company or its employees.

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What they’re saying

“It seems clear to us that Yves Guillemot has no knowledge of or understanding for the company or its employees.”

— Marc Rutschlé, Representative, Solidaires Informatiques

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The Ubisoft strikes highlight a growing desire among game developers for greater control over their working conditions, fairer compensation, and a more sustainable work-life balance. This could lead to increased unionization efforts, demands for transparency, and a rejection of 'crunch' culture across the gaming industry.