It seems to be like Ubisoft’s troubles are removed from over. After admitting to an unsatisfactory monetary efficiency for the primary half of the 12 months in an announcement yesterday, the studio is now dealing with a possible worker strike, in addition to mounting investor gloom.
Yesterday, Ubisoft introduced it might delay Murderer’s Creed Shadows till February subsequent 12 months so as to add further polish. The corporate additionally admitted that Star Wars Outlaws hadn’t been as profitable as it might like, in order that makes two main releases that are not fairly panning out the best way Ubisoft would possibly need.
Now, French union STJV is looking for French Ubisoft staff to strike over the studio’s choice to drive a return to the workplace for 3 days every week, which STJV says was a call “made with none tangible justification or any session with the employees’ representatives”.
STJV can be calling for “a right away enhance in salaries to compensate for the drop in our residing requirements in recent times”, in addition to an finish to Ubisoft’s gender pay hole, a recurring downside for the corporate in recent times.
That is not all, although. Earlier this month, activist funding firm AJ Investments referred to as for Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot to step down, in addition to different sweeping adjustments to the corporate’s company construction and technique.
Now, in accordance with a letter shared with Reuters, AJ Investments says it has the assist of 10% of Ubisoft’s shareholders, calling as soon as once more for administration to “enable the sale of the corporate to 3rd events or personal fairness companies at a good value”.
It is one other headache for a studio that arguably cannot afford many extra earlier than one thing main has to present. Pirate recreation Cranium and Bones, which was notorious for its extended improvement time, launched this 12 months to not very a lot fanfare in any respect, and different current Ubisoft releases have not precisely thrilled both.
It stays to be seen what awaits Ubisoft on the horizon; there’s each probability that its pivot away from Season Passes and its choice to launch PC video games day-and-date on Steam will flip issues round for the corporate.
One factor’s for certain, although; Yves Guillemot’s studio wants hits, and it wants them rapidly to stave off challenges from what look like more and more agitated traders. It additionally seemingly wants to have interaction in open dialogue with staff and unions to see off mutiny on that entrance. Keep tuned for extra.