towards a video game in France at a complete standstill

The video game industry and production are in crisis. We've been saying it for two years, and still not a week goes by without learning of a new layoff plan or the closure of a video game studio.

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Beyond this problem, the industry has been going through an unprecedented crisis of unhappiness at work for several years, which has greatly accelerated the unionization of video game workers, particularly in France and the United States.

Faced with the lack of progress in the situation, the Video Game Workers' Union (STJV) announced a call for a general strike for the entire video game industry, students and workers, on February 13, 2025.

What are the demands?

Frandroid was present at the union's first press conference, this Thursday, January 16.

The STJV carried out an assessment of the situation in the industry, recalling its many problems: working conditions (remuneration, physical and mental health, etc.), lack of transparency in management, lack of checks and balances within the studios or even the lack of accountability of leaders.

For this day of mobilization, the STJV is developing four demands:

1. The maintaining jobs, canceling layoffs and making decision-makers accountable who must sacrifice themselves as a priority when their business is in difficulty.
2. The transparency of companies on their finances and economic healthso that workers can plan for their future, and profit sharing with them.
3. Taking into account health at work and personal life, through reorganization of work and the reduction of working time.
4. The direct participation of workers in decision-making in their company to avoid errors on the part of their management and monitor the proper use of private and public funding.

To influence the balance of power, the objective of this day of mobilization is to concern French video games in the broadest possible sense and on the scale of the entire national territory: publishing company, distribution, developers or artists , marketing, communication, all areas are concerned.

Furthermore, the union reminds that since this is a call for a national strike, no action is required from those who would like to participate, other than not working on D-day.

To finance this movement, since the employees concerned are giving up on their remuneration during the strike, the STJV is setting up a strike fund open to donations.

Remember that France is one of the world champions in the video game industry through internationally renowned studios such as Arkane, Asobo, DontNod, Ubisoft and Quantic Dream, without forgetting the myriad of smaller and even independent studios. .