French Game Union Calls June 25 Strike as Quantic Dream Layoffs Rise to 115
Updated
Updated · Kotaku · Jun 22
French Game Union Calls June 25 Strike as Quantic Dream Layoffs Rise to 115
3 articles · Updated · Kotaku · Jun 22
Summary
STJV urged anyone employed by a video game company in France to strike on June 25, framing the action as a sector-wide response to mounting layoffs and worker abuse.
The union said conditions have worsened since its May 27 national strike, with more jobs now under threat across the industry.
Quantic Dream has become the focal point: STJV says the Detroit: Become Human developer now plans to cut 115 jobs, up from about 95 previously, and a picket is planned outside its Paris headquarters.
The call extends beyond game studios to workers in engines, marketing, streaming, merchandise, esports, online content creation and teaching, with STJV signaling further actions later this summer.
After laying off 115 'essential' staff, can Quantic Dream realistically finish its highly anticipated Star Wars Eclipse game?
Was a canceled game the real reason for the layoffs, or a symptom of deeper management failures at the studio?
Over 1,000 Jobs Lost: Inside the 2024–2026 French Video Game Industry Crisis and the "Summer Grève Fest" Strike
Overview
The "Summer Grève Fest" national strike, launched by the STJV on June 25, 2026, highlights deep unrest in the French video game industry. The union argues that widespread layoffs are not a real solution and urges leaders and public authorities to recognize the industry's "catastrophic, predictable, and avoidable" crisis. At the center is Quantic Dream, where worker warnings about the high risks of the "Spellcasters Chronicles" project were ignored by management. This dismissal of concerns became a catalyst for broader industry action, as the STJV calls for accountability and reforms to protect workers and stabilize the sector.