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 effort has already attracted more than three hundred signatures. The campaign, which was publicly announced on September 30, quickly gained momentum as the union mobilized staff across the studio to lend their support. According to reporting by Game Developer, the union—known as Game Workers Unite Montreal (GWU)—began its outreach on social media platforms, urging every Ubisoft Montreal worker to add their name to the petition.
The call to action was accompanied by a clear request for supporters outside the company to spread the word within their own circles, amplifying the reach of the initiative. In order to maximize participation, the union encouraged employees to take advantage of break times to sign the petition in person, noting that the majority of signatures have been collected through face‑to‑face interaction. This approach not only streamlined the signing process but also fostered a sense of solidarity among colleagues who gathered in common areas to discuss the importance of preserving a flexible work schedule. The United Videogame Workers Union (UVW‑CWA) publicly endorsed the petition, praising the Ubisoft Montreal union for its leadership in what UVW described as a broader collective struggle for dignified employment and economic justice.
In its statement, UVW emphasized that policies such as mandatory return‑to‑office directives are often implemented without meaningful input from the very workers they affect most. The union highlighted a range of groups that are disproportionately impacted by rigid office requirements, including parents, employees with disabilities, staff who own homes outside a reasonable commuting distance, expatriates who relocated internationally for their jobs, and professionals who thrive in remote‑first environments.
"Return‑to‑office mandates are just one of many top‑down decisions that ignore the lived realities of the workforce," the UVW statement read. "When companies impose harsh cost‑cutting measures and renege on previously negotiated agreements, they must be held accountable for the human cost of those choices." The backdrop to this dispute dates back to early 2024, when Ubisoft announced a structural reorganization into so‑called Creative Houses.
As part of that restructuring, the company instituted a return‑to‑office policy that requires all staff to be physically present in the office five days a week, with a limited annual allowance for remote work days. Ubisoft executives have framed the policy as a means to boost onsite collaboration, arguing that in‑person interaction is essential for efficiency, creativity, and overall success in a highly competitive market. Marie‑Sophie de Waubert, Senior Vice President of Studio Operations, explained to GamesIndustry.biz that the goal is to strengthen the collective dynamic across teams.
"We know that face‑to‑face collaboration and spontaneous interactions are key enablers of efficiency, creativity, and collective success in this persistently selective market. It's one enabler among others, but it's really one we believe in," she said. De Waubert added that the company will eventually discuss the operational details and flexibility of the new model with each country’s local context, but emphasized that the primary driver remains the quality of the games and the creative output of the studios. Chief Financial Officer Frederick Duguet echoed a similar sentiment, stating that discussions with employees and their representatives will continue, but framing the policy shift as a necessary step to "further boost collective performance for AAA titles." He suggested that the changes are intended to align the workforce with the company's ambitious production goals and market expectations.
The tension surrounding Ubisoft's return‑to‑office mandate is not new. In February of the same year, the company faced a three‑day international strike in response to the restructuring and the new office requirements.
Over 1,200 employees participated, according to Marc Rutschlé, a representative of the Solidaires Informatique union at Ubisoft Paris, who confirmed the numbers to GamesIndustry.biz. Ubisoft later reported that 528 staff members had formally declared themselves on strike in a separate statement, underscoring the scale of dissent within the organization. The current petition represents a renewed effort by Ubisoft Montreal workers to push back against policies they view as inflexible and detrimental to work‑life balance.
By gathering signatures both digitally and in person, the union hopes to demonstrate widespread employee concern and to pressure management into reconsidering the strict five‑day office requirement. Supporters of the petition argue that a hybrid model—allowing a blend of remote and onsite work—offers numerous advantages. Employees who can work from home part of the week often report higher productivity, reduced commuting stress, and better mental health outcomes.
Moreover, hybrid arrangements can broaden the talent pool, enabling studios to attract skilled professionals who may not be willing or able to relocate to a specific office location. Critics of the mandatory return‑to‑office policy point out that the gaming industry has successfully delivered major titles while many teams operated remotely during the COVID‑19 pandemic. They contend that the lessons learned during that period should inform future workplace strategies rather than being discarded in favor of a one‑size‑fits‑all approach. As the petition continues to collect signatures, the union plans to present the results to Ubisoft's senior leadership, seeking a dialogue that could lead to a more flexible, employee‑centred work policy.
The outcome of this effort could set a precedent for other Ubisoft studios worldwide, as well as for the broader video game development sector, where debates over remote versus onsite work remain highly contested. In summary, the Ubisoft Workers of Montreal Union's petition is more than a simple signature drive; it is a concerted campaign to protect hybrid work options, highlight the diverse needs of the workforce, and hold corporate leadership accountable for decisions that affect employees' daily lives. The growing support from both internal staff and external unions underscores the significance of this issue within the industry and signals that the conversation about the future of work in game development is far from over.