Arkane union says hiring freeze contributed to Blade delays

French video game workers’ union STJV says a 19-month hiring freeze at Arkane Lyon caused delays and extra costs in the development of Marvel’s Blade. The union alleges Microsoft is now using those delays and costs to justify the planned closure of the studio.

The union also says work on the game is progressing and that Arkane is profitable. These are the union’s claims; GamesIndustry.biz reported that Microsoft had not responded to them when its article was published.

The union says 217 employees, as well as contractors and freelancers who work with the studio, face losing their jobs if no solid offer to buy it emerges. It wants worker representatives to have a say in choosing a potential buyer and a fund to protect employees laid off by a new owner within two years.

If the studio closes, the union is demanding a €200,000 redundancy payment per employee and two years of Microsoft-funded redeployment support. Those are demands, not agreed terms. GamesIndustry.biz reports that the search period for a buyer has been extended to December 13.

Marvel’s Blade was announced as a single-player, third-person game from Arkane Lyon, set in a quarantined part of Paris. The studio is also known for the Dishonored series and DEATHLOOP.