The Ubisoft Workers of Montreal Union has initiated a petition aimed at safeguarding the hybrid work arrangement that many employees have come to rely on, and the campaign has already amassed more than three hundred signatures. The effort, which was first publicized on September 30, quickly gathered momentum as members of the union and supportive colleagues began circulating the petition both online and in person.
According to reporting from Game Developer, the union—known as Game Workers Unite Montreal (GWU)—rolled out the petition with a social‑media announcement that called on every staff member at Ubisoft Montreal to add their name to the document. The message emphasized that each signature would serve as a concrete expression of the desire to retain a flexible work schedule that blends remote days with time spent in the office.
In addition, the union urged allies outside the immediate workplace to share the petition within their own networks, thereby amplifying its reach. To maximize participation, the union organized a series of informal sign‑up sessions during break periods, encouraging employees to meet their coworkers in common areas such as kitchens, lounges, and hallways. This face‑to‑face approach proved effective; the majority of the signatures were collected in person, reflecting a strong sense of solidarity among the workforce. The United Videogame Workers Union (UVW‑CWA) publicly endorsed the petition, praising the Ubisoft Montreal union for its leadership in the broader fight for fair working conditions and economic justice.
In its statement, UVW‑CWA highlighted that policies like mandatory return‑to‑office schedules are often imposed without meaningful input from the very people they affect most—parents juggling childcare, employees with disabilities who may need accommodations, staff who have purchased homes far from the studio, expatriates who relocated internationally for the job, and professionals who have demonstrated that they can thrive while working remotely. The union warned that such top‑down decisions can carry a hidden human cost, especially when they are paired with aggressive cost‑cutting measures and the reversal of previously negotiated agreements. Ubisoft’s own restructuring plan, announced earlier in the year under the banner of "Creative Houses," introduced a strict return‑to‑office mandate. Under this policy, all employees are expected to be present at the studio five days a week, with only a limited, annually‑allocated number of work‑from‑home days permitted.
The company justified the shift by citing the need for stronger onsite collaboration and a more cohesive team dynamic across its various development groups. Marie‑Sophie de Waubert, Senior Vice President of Studio Operations, explained the rationale to GamesIndustry.biz, stating that in‑person interaction is viewed as a key driver of efficiency, creativity, and overall success in the highly competitive AAA market. She described the hybrid model as one of several tools the studio can use to foster collaboration, but emphasized that the company believes physical presence remains a vital component of its creative process.
De Waubert added that Ubisoft intends to engage with its global workforce to fine‑tune the implementation details and to explore any flexibility that may be required as the new model evolves. Chief Financial Officer Frederick Duguet echoed a similar sentiment, noting that discussions with employees and their representatives would continue, but framing the policy shift as a necessary step to boost collective performance on high‑budget titles.
He suggested that the changes were intended to enhance the quality of Ubisoft’s games and to reinvigorate team engagement across the newly formed Creative Houses. The tension surrounding Ubisoft’s return‑to‑office directive is not new. In February of this year, the studio experienced a three‑day international strike that was directly linked to the restructuring and the enforced office attendance. Over 1,200 workers participated, according to Marc Rutschlé, a representative of the Solidaires Informatique union at Ubisoft Paris, who confirmed the numbers to GamesIndustry.biz.
Ubisoft later released a separate statement indicating that 528 employees had formally reported themselves as being on strike during that period. The current petition therefore represents a continuation of the ongoing dialogue between Ubisoft’s management and its staff about the future of work at the studio. By gathering more than 300 signatures, the union demonstrates that a substantial portion of the workforce still values the flexibility that hybrid arrangements provide, and it seeks to persuade the company to reconsider a blanket five‑day‑in‑office requirement. Supporters of the petition argue that hybrid work can maintain, and even enhance, collaboration when paired with intentional planning, scheduled in‑person meetings, and the use of digital tools that keep remote contributors connected.
They point to industry research suggesting that employee satisfaction, retention, and productivity often improve when workers have the autonomy to choose where they perform certain tasks. Moreover, the petition highlights the broader social implications of a rigid office mandate, such as increased commuting time, higher carbon emissions, and the financial strain on employees who must maintain dual residences or relocate to be near the studio. In response, Ubisoft’s leadership has signaled a willingness to discuss the matter further, though they have not yet indicated any concrete revisions to the policy.
The ongoing conversation underscores a larger trend within the video‑game sector, where studios worldwide are grappling with how to balance the benefits of in‑person teamwork with the evolving expectations of a workforce that has grown accustomed to remote and hybrid models following the COVID‑19 pandemic. As the petition continues to collect signatures, both the union and its allies hope to create enough pressure to prompt Ubisoft to adopt a more flexible, employee‑centred approach.
The outcome could set a precedent for how large, multinational game developers negotiate work‑style policies in the years to come, potentially influencing industry standards around hybrid work, employee well‑being, and collective bargaining rights.