The Ubisoft Workers of Montreal Union has initiated a petition aimed at safeguarding the hybrid work arrangement that many of its members rely on, and the campaign has already attracted more than three hundred signatures. The effort, which began on September 30, was publicised through a series of posts on the union’s social‑media channels, according to reporting from Game Developer. In the announcement, the union explicitly invited every employee at Ubisoft Montreal to add their name to the petition.
It also urged allies and supporters outside the studio to spread the word within their own networks, hoping to maximise the petition’s reach. To facilitate sign‑ups, the union suggested that staff take advantage of break periods to meet with colleagues in person, noting that the majority of signatures have been collected through face‑to‑face interactions rather than online forms.
The United Videogame Workers Union, a branch of the CWA (Communications Workers of America), publicly endorsed the petition. In its statement the union praised the Ubisoft Montreal workers for “leading the change in our collective struggle for dignified work and economic justice.” The UVW‑CWA highlighted that policies such as a mandatory return‑to‑office are often imposed without consulting the very employees who are most affected. It listed a range of groups that feel the impact most acutely: parents juggling childcare, staff members with disabilities, employees who have purchased homes far from the office, workers who relocated internationally to keep their jobs, and those who simply thrive in a remote‑first environment.
The UVW‑CWA further warned that recent cost‑cutting measures and the reversal of previously negotiated agreements come with a human cost that senior management must own. It argued that the company’s leadership should be held accountable for the personal and professional sacrifices that employees are forced to make when such policies are rolled out unilaterally. Ubisoft’s own stance on the issue stems from a broader restructuring initiative announced earlier in the year.
The studio introduced the concept of “Creative Houses,” a re‑organisation intended to give development teams more autonomy while also tightening oversight on project delivery. As part of this shift, Ubisoft instituted a return‑to‑office mandate that requires all staff to be physically present in the office five days a week, with a limited, pre‑approved number of work‑from‑home days allocated annually. Marie‑Sophie de Waubert, Senior Vice President of Studio Operations, explained the rationale behind the policy in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz. She said the company’s primary goal is to “strengthen onsite collaboration and the collective dynamic across teams.” According to de Waubert, in‑person interaction is a critical driver of efficiency, creativity, and overall success in a market that remains highly competitive and selective.
While acknowledging that hybrid or remote work can have benefits, she emphasized that the decision to prioritize office presence is “one enabler among others” that Ubisoft believes will help the newly formed Creative Houses achieve higher quality games and stronger team engagement. De Waubert also promised that Ubisoft would eventually discuss the specifics of the new working model with each country’s operations and with employee representatives, allowing for a degree of flexibility as the model evolves.
She framed the policy as a quality‑driven move: “The objective is really linked to the quality of our games and the quality of our creativity.” Financial Chief Frederick Duguet echoed a similar sentiment, stating that the company will continue to engage with employees and their unions to fine‑tune the approach. He described the shift as a means to “boost collective performance for AAA titles,” suggesting that the company sees a direct correlation between physical collaboration and the ability to deliver high‑budget, high‑profile projects on schedule and within budget. The tension surrounding Ubisoft’s return‑to‑office directive is not new. In February of the same year, the studio experienced a three‑day international strike that was triggered by the restructuring plan and the accompanying office‑attendance requirement.
At least 1,200 employees participated in the walk‑out, according to Marc Rutschlé, a representative of the Solidaires Informatique union at Ubisoft Paris, who confirmed the figures to GamesIndustry.biz. Ubisoft later issued a separate statement indicating that 528 staff members had formally reported themselves as being on strike during that period.
The current petition can therefore be seen as part of a continuing dialogue—if not an outright conflict—between Ubisoft’s management and its workforce. Workers are pushing back against what they perceive as a top‑down decision that neglects the diverse circumstances of its global staff.
By gathering signatures and rallying external support, the Ubisoft Workers of Montreal Union hopes to pressure the company into reconsidering the rigidity of its return‑to‑office policy and to explore more flexible, hybrid solutions that accommodate a broader range of employee needs. If the petition continues to gain momentum, it may force Ubisoft’s leadership to revisit its stance, potentially leading to a revised hybrid framework that balances the company’s desire for in‑person collaboration with the legitimate concerns of its employees.
The outcome could set a precedent not only for Ubisoft’s other studios worldwide but also for the wider video‑game industry, where the debate over remote versus office work remains a hotly contested issue.