Update 12/02/2026: Ubisoft has released a statement (via GamesIndustry.Biz) responding to the strike. It also reported that at least 538 employees directly reported themselves to the company as being on strike.
"The transformation announced by Ubisoft on January 21 aims to open a new chapter for the Group by sustainably strengthening team autonomy and creativity within the Creative Houses," the statement begins. "It is designed to enable teams to develop games that meet the highest standards of the industry, while contributing to the Group's long-term sustainability in a demanding economic and industrial environment."
"We understand these changes, particularly those affecting work organization, are generating strong feelings. Since the announcement, we have held a series of discussions and information sessions at multiple levels to help teams better understand the new organization and to give them the opportunity to share their questions and concerns."
"Ubisoft's leadership remains committed to maintaining an open and constructive dialogue with employees and employee representatives, in order to support this transformation and to build a stable and clear working framework for everyone."
Original Story:
At the start of 2026, Ubisoft didn't just announce layoffs at one of its studios (which is how it started 2025). It announced a "major reset," which included layoffs at multiple studios, the shuttering of Ubisoft Halifax, the cancellation of the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake, and significant changes to its operating structure, alongside some unpopular new policies like a return-to-office mandate.
The response to these changes has not exactly been positive, both internally within Ubisoft and externally across the industry. On the stock market, the announcement of the restructure saw the company's stock price drop 34%, which officially saw Ubisoft lose 95% of its value in just eight years. When this restructuring was followed by the introduction of a voluntary redundancy program at Ubisoft's headquarters in Paris, which aimed to cut as many as 200 employees, employees decided they had had enough.
French union Solidaires Informatique, which represents several employees at Ubisoft Paris, announced plans for an international strike, calling on Ubisoft employees at branches across the globe to walk out and strike on February 10, 11, and 12. Yesterday, February 10, 2026, was the first day of the strike, and according to Solidaires Informatique (via GamesIndustry.Biz), at least 1,200 Ubisoft employees walked out yesterday to participate in the strike.
Most of the striking employees came from within France, with some of the striking workers also coming from the Milan branch. It's a strong show of force from Ubisoft employees, who have been calling out the company's leadership, specifically chief executive officer Yves Guillemot, as the responsible party for the studio's woes.
Employees are still on strike today, and will be for the remainder of the week. This is also not the only demonstration that has already happened, as former staff from the now-shuttered Halifax branch held a rally last month in response to their studio getting suddenly shut down.
Solidaires Informatique already hosted a smaller strike last month that it called an "initial answer to the absurdity of management's decisions." Solidaires Informatique representative, Marc Rutschlé, also added, "At this state, it seems clear to us that Yves Guillemot has no knowledge or understanding of his company or its employees."
"The company is continuing its cost reduction and layoff plan. Our teams are already working under pressure, often understaffed. After several years without pay rises (or very small increases), we understand that once again, employees will not receive a raise this year. At the same time, the reorganization is creating a number of high-level positions with excessive salaries."
"From our union's point of view, this forced reversal is a disguised redundancy plan, aimed at pushing employees outside the company. The atmosphere within the studio is particularly deplorable, with anger and despair reigning supreme. Staff representatives have witnessed several breakdowns in tears; some colleagues have made suicidal comments. If Guillemot wanted to make people miserable, he couldn't have done better."
About the author: David has been writing about videogames, technology, and culture since 2020, with a focus on reporting daily news across multiple publications, including GameDaily.Biz, GameSkinny, and PlayStation Universe before joining Wccftech in 2025. David started contributing as Canada/US reporter for Wccftech's gaming section in 2025. Besides being up-to-date on the industry's movements, he loves interviewing developers, reviewing games, and writing intricate essays about the symbolism and layered meanings to be found in rich narratives as he's done for publications like GamesIndustry.Biz, LostInCult, and others. Outside of games he loves movies, music, theatre, his hometown, and his family, though not necessarily in that order.
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