Staff at French developer Quantic Dream held a strike outside their Paris headquarters to protest planned layoffs that could affect up to 115 employees and jeopardize the continuation of Star Wars Eclipse, the studio's highly anticipated title.
The strike coincided with a crucial visit from Lucasfilm representatives reviewing Star Wars Eclipse’s development progress. Insiders warn that the game's completion is at risk if the layoffs proceed as planned, stressing that the remaining team cannot sustain development without the full workforce.
Quantic Dream had recently shuttered Spellcasters Chronicles, a 3v3 MOBA launched late last year, which led to an internal reorganization and the announcement of the layoffs. Many affected employees have been inactive or minimally engaged for weeks while awaiting decisions, losing valuable production time and missing opportunities to train on tools specific to Star Wars Eclipse.
Protesting employees emphasized that their strike is not an act of sabotage but a plea to save both their jobs and the project. They highlighted that the studio is currently understaffed, despite the common industry practice of relying on extended crunch periods fueled by passion rather than sustainable labor conditions.
Rumors also circulate that the studio’s owner, Chinese tech giant NetEase, may consider selling Quantic Dream. This puts additional pressure on the project’s future unless Lucasfilm decides to increase financial support to see Star Wars Eclipse through to completion.