Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, highly anticipated by first-person shooter enthusiasts for its return to classic gameplay, has garnered positive reception since its release. However, developers involved in its creation have recently gone on strike, highlighting poor working conditions within the gaming industry. This situation echoes recent protests by Ubisoft employees against similar issues, particularly around the enforced return to office work after the pandemic, raising concerns about employee treatment in the gaming sector.
One of the most anticipated first-person shooter games at the end of 2024 is undoubtedly Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. After two consecutive years focused on the Modern Warfare franchise, fans eagerly awaited Treyarch’s return with this latest installment, which was marketed as a true throwback to the series’ roots. With its well-designed maps, innovative movement mechanics, and a zombie mode that evokes the franchise’s finest moments, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has certainly pleased many since its launch. However, the workers involved in its development chose to go on strike just a few days ago.
Some Employees Working on Black Ops 6 Go on Strike
Recent years have seen the video game industry facing an unprecedented crisis. Despite year-on-year increases in sales numbers, the industry has also experienced a surge in layoffs and studio closures over the past two years. Regardless of a game’s success, no one seems safe in this industry, and the atmosphere has become increasingly heavy for those who create the games we enjoy. Even when outright layoffs aren’t occurring, working conditions within various development studios have been deteriorating significantly. This is a situation also faced by the developers of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, who recently went on strike to protest Activision’s decisions:
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A Situation Similar to Ubisoft’s
Since the end of consecutive lockdowns around the globe due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the issue of telecommuting has become more relevant than ever. Many employees have realized that they can perform their jobs just as effectively, if not better, from home without the disruptions of office life. Beyond personal comfort, remote work has particularly benefited those with disabilities or individuals living far from their workplace, enabling them to work normally. Unfortunately, for reasons that are not always clear, employers often pressure their staff to return to the office, which has not been well received.
This scenario is also familiar in France, where Ubisoft employees recently staged a multi-day strike to raise awareness of the same issues. Although staff had become accustomed to telecommuting with at least equal efficiency, Ubisoft executives recently compelled workers to return to the office. Such decisions have overburdened an already full glass, exacerbated by years of toxic behavior and salary concerns. Perhaps one day, executives will realize that they are nothing without the people who create the products they sell…
Meanwhile, as Ubisoft has struggled over the past few months and years without a clear franchise to pull them out of troubled waters, could it be time to play the ultimate wildcard? Indeed, a new Rayman game might be on the horizon, with early teasers already making their rounds.