"Arkane is profitable," say Marvel's Blade developers in fiery new statement, "just not profitable enough for Microsoft"

Unionized employees at Arkane Lyon, the studio behind Marvel’s Blade, have issued a statement rejecting Microsoft’s claim that the studio is unprofitable, asserting that Arkane remains financially viable despite operational challenges. They argue that Microsoft’s hiring freeze over 19 months artificially inflated costs, which the company then cited as justification for potential closure. The workers describe Microsoft’s decision-making as driven by short-term financial goals rather than financial logic, emphasizing the studio’s ongoing profitability.

The statement accuses Microsoft of systematically depriving Arkane of resources, including cash, through corporate mechanisms that contributed to delays and increased expenses. It highlights that closing Arkane now could be more costly than completing Marvel’s Blade, challenging the rationale behind the studio’s potential shutdown. The workers frame Microsoft’s actions as part of a broader strategy of profit optimization, citing years of mass layoffs and recent voluntary buyouts across the Xbox division.

Arkane’s unionized staff demand a “solid offer” from Microsoft to address the studio’s future, emphasizing that as a corporation with over $133 billion in net profit in recent years, Microsoft can afford a fair redundancy package. They propose compensation of €200,000 per worker, two years of redeployment support, shared training resources, and additional protections for freelancers and contractors. The deadline for negotiations is December 13, with potential buyers like Ubisoft reportedly interested in acquiring Arkane.

The workers criticize Microsoft’s “brutal” approach, stating that the company’s financial logic disregards the lives, projects, and aspirations of Arkane’s employees. They argue that Microsoft’s actions have created the very economic conditions used to justify the studio’s closure, calling the process a form of sabotage against Marvel’s Blade and the studio’s legacy.