Arkane union workers accuse Microsoft of sabotaging the studio

Union workers at Blade and Dishonored developer Arkane Studios, which is currently facing divestment or closure under Microsoft, have accused the Xbox maker of sabotaging production by implementing a hiring freeze that has lasted 19 months. 

Members of the Syndicat des Travailleureuses du Jeu Vidéo (STJV) union in France—where Arkane is headquartered—claim that hiring freeze caused delays and incurred additional production costs, giving Microsoft cause to shutter down the studio. 

Even so, STJV workers state that closing Arkane today would be "more expensive" than finishing Blade and believe Microsoft has made the studio surplus to requirements in a "never-ending search for maximum profit optimization." 

"Arkane is profitable. Just not profitable enough for Microsoft," reads an open letter shared on the STJV website. "Microsoft is responsible for the situation Arkane is in today. Microsoft is responsible for the situation the workers are in today. So Microsoft has to take full responsibility here and act accordingly"