French union accuses Microsoft of sabotaging Marvels Blade development

French video game union Syndicat des travailleureuses du jeu video has accused parent company Microsoft of sabotaging development on Marvels Blade, according to GamesIndustry.biz and Destructoid. GamesIndustry.biz, Destructoid and PC Gamer report that the union claims a 19-month hiring freeze imposed by Microsoft caused game delays and added costs, which the publisher is now citing to justify shutting down the developer. Destructoid and Rock Paper Shotgun report that the union said development on the game is going fine, but the studio remains at risk because Microsoft decided to close it. [1][2][3][5][8][9][10]

According to GamesIndustry.biz and Eurogamer, the union argued that closing Arkane Lyon would probably cost Microsoft more money than finishing Marvels Blade. Rock Paper Shotgun reported that unionised workers called on Xbox management to provide a redundancy offer proportionate to Microsoft's market value, stating that the studio is profitable, just not profitable enough for its parent company. [1][2][3][6]

As FTMQ Gaming reported earlier, Arkane Lyon faces a November 13 deadline to find a buyer or face closure by Microsoft, with publisher Ubisoft and at least two other gaming companies having submitted acquisition bids. Arkane Lyon is a French developer based in Lyon that was founded in 1999 and previously created Dishonored, Dishonored 2, Prey and Deathloop. Its upcoming action-adventure title Marvels Blade, published by Bethesda Softworks, follows vampire hunter Eric Brooks as he fights a vampiric invasion in Paris. [4][7][13][14][15][16]