French video game union claims Microsoft is deliberately sabotaging Marvel's Blade to justify shutting down Arkane

French video game workers' union STJV has publicly accused Microsoft of sabotaging the development of Marvel's Blade and leveraging the resulting delays to justify shutting down Arkane. The union stated that while the game's production is going well internally and matching the quality of past titles like Dishonored and Prey, Arkane now faces potential closure under wider Xbox restructuring efforts. STJV asserted that Arkane remains profitable, but "just not profitable enough for Microsoft." [1][2][3]

According to the union, Microsoft instituted a 19-month hiring freeze that artificially inflated costs and delayed development before citing those very factors as justification to shutter the developer. STJV argued that closing Arkane would defy financial logic and likely cost more money than allowing the team to finish the game. Should a shutdown occur, the union labeled Microsoft's current severance terms "outrageously low" and demanded a redundancy package of 200K€ ($225,000) per employee alongside two years of redeployment support. [1][2][3]

The union is also seeking a formal voice in selecting a buyer for Arkane and wants a 24-month protection fund established against future layoffs under new ownership. Several publishers have reportedly shown interest in acquiring the studio, including French gaming giant Ubisoft, while studio management has also explored a buyout to return Arkane to independent status. [1][2][3]