Video game publisher Ubisoft is accelerating its cost-cutting measures with a proposal that could eliminate 200 jobs at its Paris headquarters through a **collective voluntary termination agreement**—a strategy that sidesteps traditional layoffs but has drawn criticism for its perceived pressure on employees.
The move comes less than a week after Ubisoft announced sweeping restructuring, including **game cancellations, studio closures, and delays** across its portfolio. The latest proposal, known in France as *Rupture Conventionnelle Collective*, allows the company to offer severance packages to employees in exchange for voluntary resignation, avoiding the legal and reputational risks of mandatory layoffs.
Under French labor law, such agreements must be negotiated with employee representatives and approved by authorities. Ubisoft’s plan applies only to **200 Paris-based roles**, with no impact on other French studios or global teams. However, the scale of the cuts—nearly **20% of the 1,100 employees** at the headquarters—raises questions about whether the offer is truly voluntary or a veiled attempt to force out staff amid financial strain.
This tactic mirrors Ubisoft’s recent handling of its **Massive Entertainment** and **Stockholm studios**, where a similar *voluntary career transition program* initially failed to secure enough resignations. When participation fell short, Ubisoft resorted to **mandatory layoffs**, ultimately closing the Stockholm studio entirely despite earlier assurances that its long-term direction remained intact.
The union **Solidaires Informatique**, which has called for strikes over Ubisoft’s restructuring, condemned the proposal. While the union does not represent headquarters employees, it criticized the timing, noting that the severance offer follows recent announcements of **degraded working conditions** for remaining staff. The union described the approach as ‘disgusting,’ suggesting that employees may feel compelled to accept the deal rather than risk job loss through other means.
Ubisoft’s strategy reflects broader challenges in the gaming industry, where studios grapple with **rising costs, shifting player expectations, and economic uncertainty**. The company’s decision to pursue voluntary exits—rather than outright layoffs—may reduce immediate backlash but risks deepening distrust among employees already wary of corporate instability.
**Key details of the proposal:**
- Scope: 200 positions at Ubisoft International’s Paris headquarters (French contracts only).
- Mechanism: *Rupture Conventionnelle Collective*—a negotiated severance deal requiring employee agreement.
- Legal safeguards: Must be approved by French labor authorities; includes caps on job cuts and severance terms.
- Impact: No effect on other French studios or global teams.
- Context: Part of Ubisoft’s broader restructuring, which includes **game cancellations (e.g., *Prince of Persia: The Sand of Time* remake) and studio closures**.
The proposal’s success hinges on whether employees accept the severance terms. If too few resign voluntarily, Ubisoft may face **forced layoffs**, as seen at Massive and Stockholm. For now, the company’s approach underscores a growing trend in tech and gaming: using legal loopholes to soften the blow of mass job cuts—even if the message to workers is clear.
