Union accuses Microsoft of sabotaging Marvel's Blade to justify Arkane closure

A French trade union has launched a fiery accusation against Microsoft, claiming the tech giant intentionally undermined development of Marvel's Blade at Arkane Lyon. According to the STJV union, as reported by GameSpot and PC Gamer, Microsoft is "sabotaging the game it funded" to create a pretext for shutting the studio down.

The union states, per Eurogamer, that work on the Blade title is proceeding well and matches the quality of the studio's past acclaimed projects. Their statement claims Microsoft imposed a hiring freeze lasting over 19 months, which they say artificially caused delays and inflated the game's budget. The union alleges Microsoft is now using those same cost overruns as the economic justification to close Arkane.

Furthermore, the STJV argues that closing the studio makes no financial sense. They claim, as covered by Rock Paper Shotgun, that shuttering Arkane "would probably be more expensive" for Xbox than simply finishing and releasing Marvel's Blade. The statement declares, "Arkane is profitable. Just not profitable enough for Microsoft."

The union is now making a series of demands. These include giving employees a say in any potential buyer for the studio, such as the reported interest from Ubisoft. Should closure be unavoidable, they are demanding a redundancy payment of €200,000 per employee, calling Microsoft's current proposed package "outrageously low."

Microsoft has until December to find a new buyer for Arkane Lyon, a deadline the union says was extended following their request. The fate of the studio and its Blade project remains uncertain.