Quantic Dream: Strike to Save “Star Wars Eclipse” and 115 Jobs
The renowned Parisian game studio, Quantic Dream, is currently facing dire challenges as 115 positions are at risk of being eliminated. This alarming news has sparked a strike among employees aimed at ensuring the completion of “Star Wars Eclipse,” a project that has generated immense excitement since its announcement in 2021.
Background of the Strike
Following reports by the French gaming magazine Gamekult, the French game union STJV called for the strike. On June 25th, employees set up a picket line outside the Paris headquarters, coinciding with a scheduled evaluation by a Lucasfilm delegation on the development status of “Star Wars Eclipse.” For the striking employees, this timing represented a crucial opportunity to send a clear message to the company’s leadership.
Triggering Factors: The Failure of “Spellcasters Chronicles”
The roots of this conflict lie in the recent failure of “Spellcasters Chronicles,” a free-to-play MOBA that launched in early access on February 26, 2026. Unfortunately, it attracted very few players and led to Quantic Dream halting its development as of May 20. This decision triggered a significant round of layoffs after eight years of development investment.
Initially, the layoffs affected approximately 95 positions, but subsequent reports indicated that the total may now be as high as 115, accounting for nearly a quarter of the studio’s workforce. Gamekult highlights this as the largest job reduction in a French studio since Blizzard France’s closure in 2020.
Limited Visibility of “Star Wars Eclipse”
“Star Wars Eclipse” made waves during the Game Awards 2021 with a visually stunning cinematic trailer that left fans buzzing. However, after that initial display, Quantic Dream has been largely silent about the game’s progress. In 2022, the Chinese conglomerate NetEase fully acquired Quantic Dream after being a minority stakeholder since 2019. Given the existing turmoil, many industry insiders believe that the project’s viability is in jeopardy, and its future remains uncertain.
Strikers’ Demands and Company Challenges
The strikers aim to halt the layoffs and complete “Star Wars Eclipse.” Employees have expressed that the studio is chronically understaffed, and the affected colleagues are crucial for the project’s success. This situation underscores the fragile state of the game’s development and the level of talent that may be lost if the layoffs proceed.
NetEase’s Silence and Broader Implications
The silence from NetEase is notably conspicuous. The Hangzhou-based company has been aggressively acquiring and opening studios post-pandemic. However, since 2025, they have begun scaling back, letting go of hundreds of employees. Reports indicate that NetEase CEO William Ding only considers games that can generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually as worthy of development. Moreover, sources suggest that NetEase might have pressured Quantic Dream into pulling the plug on “Spellcasters Chronicles,” contrary to the wishes of the studio’s leadership.
The STJV union argues that the planned social plan is illegal, claiming it unfairly targets the “Spellcasters Chronicles” team. In France, layoffs cannot be directed at specific project teams. This strike is part of a larger wave of protests organized by the STJV, expected to continue through September.
Conclusion: What’s Next for Quantic Dream?
As the storm of layoffs and striking employees converges, the future of “Star Wars Eclipse” hangs in the balance. The outcome of these protests and the management’s response to employee demands will be pivotal not only for the game’s completion but also for the studio’s long-term viability in the competitive gaming landscape. Whether Quantic Dream can navigate this crisis and emerge stronger remains to be seen, but stakeholders and fans alike will be watching closely.
