Employees at French game studio Don't Nod, the developers behind Jusant, Life is Strange 1 and 2, and the upcoming Lost Records release: Bloom & Rage, are expected to strike this week over impending layoffs. The STJV (The Union of Video Game Workers) announced that the strike picket would be held next to the studio's headquarters in Paris.
Last week, the union called a strike because the studio's 69 jobs were at risk. Don't Nod CEO Oskar Guilbert explained that a new initiative was designed for a “reorganization project aimed at securing the long-term future of the company” amid “deteriorating” results financial.
“Our 2024 half-year results reflect the economic underperformance of our last publication, despite good ratings on Metacritic, as well as the accounting impact of the decisions we had to make. The first performance support measures announced last spring no longer seem sufficient to maintain the company's competitiveness,” Guilbert said in a statement.
“As a result, today we presented to the staff representative bodies a reorganization project which could put Don't Nod on a new development trajectory,” he added. “I am fully aware of the impact that this project can have on all of our employees. Securing our company's resources and restoring its ability to perform better in an increasingly competitive and selective sector is extremely necessary. “
The STJV highlighted its demands and responded to the statement by explaining why workers are striking and how it can be reversed.
“We demand that management immediately abandon this irresponsible and unfair layoff plan. We demand that studio workers, who are the most competent people, have a real say in all decision-making. We demand the presence of Oskar Guilbert in the negotiations, and that he assumes full responsibility as CEO”, we can read. “This dismissal plan is absurd, violent and will not save our company. We therefore call on our colleagues to continue their mobilization with a day of strike on Friday, November 8.”
Despite having to halt production on two future albums due to poor sales of Juscant and Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, Don't Nod still has high hopes for Lost Records: Bloom and Rage, which will be released in February.