Arkane Lyon Union Accuses Microsoft of 'Sabotaging' Marvel's Blade Development Amid Studio Closure Threat

The French game workers union STJV has accused Microsoft of 'sabotaging' the development of Marvel's Blade at Arkane Lyon, claiming a 19-month hiring freeze artificially delayed the project and increased costs. The union says the game itself is 'going fine,' but the studio faces potential closure as part of Microsoft's 'never-ending search for maximum profit optimization.' Arkane Lyon, known for Dishonored 2 and Deathloop, has been in a consultation period under French labor law since Xbox's reset earlier this year, and was recently granted an extra month to find a buyer. Reports indicate three companies, including Ubisoft, have submitted bids. The union argues closing the studio would be more costly than finishing the game, and demands employee protections and a say in any sale. With sister studio Arkane Austin already shuttered in 2024, the fate of Lyon—and the Blade game set in Paris—hangs in the balance. The next few weeks could determine whether this acclaimed developer survives or becomes another casualty of consolidation.