Employees at Quantic Dream have launched a strike outside the studio’s Parisian headquarters in a direct effort to protect 115 workers facing potential layoffs following the sudden closure of Spellcaster Chronicles. The demonstration began on June 26, strategically coinciding with an internal visit from a Lucasfilm representative who was on-site to review the development progress of the highly anticipated Star Wars Eclipse.
According to reports from French gaming outlet Gamekult, the labor action stems from deep concerns over the future of the studio’s upcoming sci-fi project. Striking staff members claim that Quantic Dream is already severely understaffed. They argue that instead of letting these 115 developers go, the studio should reassign them to Star Wars Eclipse to help alleviate severe crunch conditions and ensure the game actually reaches completion.
The current unrest follows the June 19 shutdown of Spellcaster Chronicles, a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) title that failed to gain traction after Quantic Dream’s recent pivot to the genre. Following the game’s termination, management announced an internal reorganization that included immediate staff cuts. Workers on the picket line warn that losing this crucial talent could push the already delayed Star Wars Eclipse into permanent development jeopardy.
This internal turmoil reflects a broader, ongoing wave of instability across the video game industry. Compulsion Games is currently facing staff reductions and potential closure following the underperformance of South of Midnight, while Bungie recently executed massive layoffs impacting the Destiny 2 team. As major studios continue to downsize, the strike at Quantic Dream highlights a growing pushback from developers fighting to preserve both their livelihoods and the high-profile projects they are tasked with building. Management has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the strike or the demands of the workforce.
