All they care about is money: French union accuses Microsoft of sabotaging Arkane Studios and demands saving the developers of Marvel's Blade

“Arkane is profitable. Just not profitable enough for Microsoft.”

Microsoft continues to search for a buyer for the creators of Dishonored and Deathloop, but time to strike a deal is running out. Amid the uncertainty, the French video game workers' union Syndicat des Travailleureuses du Jeu Vidéo (STJV) published an open letter accusing Microsoft's gaming division of practically sabotaging the studio and its new game, Marvel's Blade.

Union representatives stated that the development of Marvel’s Blade is progressing well, with the project's quality meeting the high standards players have come to expect from Arkane. Nevertheless, employees are forced to fear the studio's closure, and Microsoft's decision could jeopardize even a game that the company itself previously funded.

According to the STJV, one of the reasons for the issues that arose was a 19-month hiring freeze. The union claims that this artificially slowed development and led to additional expenses. Representatives of the organization also believe that shutting down Arkane at this stage will likely cost Microsoft more than completing Marvel's Blade.

The STJV insists on preserving Arkane so that the team can finish Marvel’s Blade, release the game, and continue working on future projects. If a buyer cannot be found, the union demands that Microsoft pay each employee around $225,000 in severance and provide additional social guarantees following layoffs.

In its statement, STJV representatives separately criticized Microsoft's financial policies, stating that the potential closure of Arkane is driven by the company's drive for constant profit optimization.