A recent study by NME Following similar allegations by French trade unions, we found reports of a crunch culture and poor working conditions in game development at Ubisoft Paris. Solidaires Informatique Last week, it claimed high rates of sick leave and developer “burnout.”
The report contains direct quotes from multiple developers about Just Dance 2023, saying that Ubisoft Paris employees encountered “chaos” during the making of the game and that it was set by the studio boss. It claims to have made multiple unrealistic demands.
The issues cited include allegations that the studio hasn’t settled on the game’s production engine despite tight deadlines and just nine months of production left, as well as “absolute consideration”. It includes the need to implement “impossible” creative decisions.
These labor standards created an environment of crunch culture in which overtime shifts became commonplace, with some employees “explicitly encouraged to work overtime” by “intimidating” numbers, according to NME sources. While Just Dance 2023 employees were the focus of the investigation, one of the anonymous interviewees said, “All Ubi Paris projects are [is] It’s influenced by crunch culture.”
The appointment of managing director Marie-Sophie de Waubert has been cited positively by the same employees, but underscores the “true cohesion” of the Paris team itself.
It’s the latest in a series of articles about troubled publishers, including alleged misconduct and broader managerial problems, PR blunders and an apology from CEO Yves Guillemot, and a dire situation. There are reports that the company’s employee ranks have dried up in recent years due to the ensuing stock price plunge. sales report.
Can read NME Full report here.
