LE STRIKE: The Syndicat des travailleurs et travailleuses du jeu vidéo (STJV) is a major union representing workers in France's video game industry. The organization has called for a strike in response to what it describes as the dire state of the sector, and is already planning for a "hot summer" of repeated actions against those it holds responsible for the situation.
The French video game industry is in a critical state, and the STJV has called on workers to join a strike against studio executives and what it describes as irresponsible management practices. The union recently announced a new national strike on June 25, 2026, one month after a previous action. Few people participated in the latest strike, but the STJV is anticipating further actions in the coming months.
Following the May strike, conditions in the French industry have not improved. The STJV says that more than 1,000 people have lost their jobs since then, with additional layoffs expected in the near future. The union has warned for years about poor working conditions, accusing companies of practices such as untracked overtime. It also argues that the industry is facing similar challenges globally.
In particular, the STJV blames studios for their inability to retain and retrain skilled workers. Executives, it says, are quick to lay off staff, citing difficult market conditions as justification. The union also criticizes industry leaders for mismanaging both workforce planning and development projects, as well as for relying heavily on generative AI and outsourcing. It adds that the French government shares responsibility, arguing that subsidies are provided with limited oversight and questionable accountability.
