The Ubisoft Workers of Montreal Union has initiated a petition aimed at protecting 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 spread across social media platforms, drawing attention from both Ubisoft staff and the broader gaming‑industry community.
According to reporting by Game Developer, the petition was launched by Game Workers Unite Montreal (GWU), a local chapter of the larger international movement for game‑industry labor rights. The union’s announcement called on every Ubisoft Montreal employee to add their name to the petition and urged allies to reach out to friends, family and colleagues to encourage additional signatures. The messaging emphasized that the strongest show of support would come from in‑person sign‑ups, and indeed, many of the signatures were collected during break periods when workers could gather informally in common areas.
The United Videogame Workers Union, which operates under the umbrella of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), publicly endorsed the petition. In a statement, UVW‑CWA praised the Montreal union for "leading the change in our collective struggle for dignified work and economic justice," and highlighted how the return‑to‑office (RTO) policies being pushed by Ubisoft management affect a wide range of workers. The union pointed out that such policies are often crafted without meaningful input from the very employees they impact, citing specific groups such as parents, people with disabilities, employees who have purchased homes far from the studio, expatriates who relocated for the job, and those who have demonstrated high productivity while working remotely.
The UVW‑CWA further argued that Ubisoft’s recent cost‑cutting measures and the reversal of previously negotiated agreements represent a "human price" that must be accounted for. The union’s language suggested that leadership should be held responsible for the personal and professional disruptions caused by abrupt policy shifts. Ubisoft’s own stance on the issue stems from a restructuring initiative announced earlier in the year, which introduced the concept of "Creative Houses." As part of this reorganization, the company instituted a mandatory return‑to‑office schedule that requires staff to be present in the studio five days a week, while offering a limited, annually‑allocated number of work‑from‑home days.
Ubisoft executives have framed the policy as a means to bolster on‑site collaboration and to reinforce a collective team dynamic that they believe is essential for creativity and efficiency in a highly competitive market. Marie‑Sophie de Waubert, Senior Vice President of Studio Operations, explained to GamesIndustry.biz that in‑person interaction is viewed as a critical driver of both efficiency and artistic innovation.
She said, "We really want to strengthen onsite collaboration, the collective dynamic across teams. We know that in‑person collaboration and 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." De Waubert also indicated that the company plans to discuss the specifics of the new model with its various international locations, suggesting that there may be room for flexibility once the broader framework is settled.
She emphasized that the ultimate goal is to improve the quality of Ubisoft’s games and to re‑energize team engagement, positioning the hybrid‑to‑on‑site shift as one of several tools to achieve those objectives. Chief Financial Officer Frederick Duguet echoed a similar sentiment, stating that discussions with employees and their representatives would continue, and framing the policy change as a strategy to "boost the collective performance for AAAs"—a reference to the studio’s focus on high‑budget, high‑profile titles.
The tension surrounding Ubisoft’s RTO mandate is not new. In February of the same year, the company faced a three‑day international strike that was triggered by the restructuring and the return‑to‑office requirement. According to Marc Rutschlé, a representative of the Solidaires Informatique union at Ubisoft Paris, at least 1,200 employees participated in the walkout, while Ubisoft later reported that 528 staff members had officially logged themselves as being on strike.
The strike underscored the depth of employee dissatisfaction with top‑down decisions that were perceived as disregarding worker needs and prior agreements. Since the February action, the conversation about hybrid work has remained a flashpoint within Ubisoft’s Montreal studio. The petition’s rapid accumulation of signatures suggests that a significant portion of the workforce is eager to preserve the flexibility that remote or hybrid arrangements provide. Advocates argue that hybrid work can improve work‑life balance, reduce commuting stress, and accommodate a more diverse talent pool, all of which can ultimately benefit the studio’s creative output.
Critics within Ubisoft’s leadership maintain that physical presence fosters spontaneous idea exchange and rapid problem‑solving, which they claim are harder to replicate in a virtual environment. They also point to the competitive nature of the AAA gaming sector, where tight deadlines and complex technical challenges may benefit from the immediacy of face‑to‑face collaboration.
As the petition continues to circulate, both sides appear poised for further dialogue. The union has indicated that it will keep pressing management for a more inclusive decision‑making process, while Ubisoft has signaled a willingness to negotiate the specifics of the hybrid model on a regional basis. The outcome of this negotiation could set a precedent for how large, multinational game studios balance the demands of creative collaboration with the evolving expectations of a modern workforce.
In summary, the Ubisoft Workers of Montreal Union’s petition to preserve hybrid work has become a focal point for broader discussions about employee rights, workplace flexibility, and corporate responsibility within the gaming industry. With over 300 signatures already collected and support from national labor organizations, the petition reflects a growing desire among Ubisoft staff to shape their own working conditions rather than having them dictated solely by executive mandates. The next steps will likely involve a series of negotiations, potential compromises, and continued advocacy from both employees and unions, all aimed at finding a sustainable path forward that respects both the creative ambitions of the studio and the well‑being of its workers.