“To Do Nothing Is to Support Microsoft's Actions”

Key insights

7 takeaways

01
A group of employees at Microsoft-owned Arkane Lyon, represented by the STJV union, published an open letter protesting Microsoft’s reported provision of AI and Azure cloud technology to the Israeli military during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
02
The unionized workers argue that Microsoft’s gaming division, which includes Xbox, Activision, and Blizzard, is financially complicit in the company's broader corporate activities, rejecting the notion that their studio is siloed from these operations.
03
Arkane leadership has remained neutral regarding the letter, advising staff to maintain peaceful exchanges, while the authors report receiving both internal support and anxiety from colleagues concerned about potential retaliation following recent Microsoft-wide layoffs.
04
The authors of the letter, who are protected by French labor laws regarding workplace speech, state they have no plans to leave the company, preferring to remain and advocate for change from within.
05
Sony has increased the price of all PlayStation 5 models in the U.S. by $50, with the base system now priced at $550 and the PS5 Pro at $750, citing a challenging economic environment.
06
Krafton-owned Unknown Worlds Entertainment has filed a lawsuit against three former principals, alleging they breached contracts and downloaded over 100,000 sensitive company files, including movie scripts and game data, prior to their termination.
07
Microsoft has scheduled the release of its first Xbox-branded portable gaming device, the Xbox ROG Ally, for October 16, though the company has not yet disclosed a retail price.

Summary

This analysis examines the internal tensions at Microsoft-owned Arkane Studios in France, where a group of employees associated with the French union Le Syndicat des Travailleureuses du Jeu Vidéo (STJV) issued an open letter criticizing the parent company’s alleged ties to the Israeli military. Published in August 2025, the letter demands that Microsoft terminate contracts with the Israeli Occupation Forces, disclose military-related business ties, and protect employees who engage in pro-Palestinian speech. The authors argue that as contributors to Microsoft’s gaming revenue, they bear a moral responsibility for the company’s broader corporate actions, rejecting the notion that their division is siloed from the firm’s cloud and AI operations.

The initiative highlights a growing trend of employee activism within the gaming industry, specifically regarding the ethical implications of corporate contracts with military entities. While Microsoft has previously stated that investigations found no evidence of its Azure or AI technologies being used to target or harm individuals in the Gaza conflict, the company is currently conducting further reviews following external reports of surveillance-related usage. Despite the significance of the protest, management at Arkane and Bethesda has remained neutral, inviting staff to maintain professional discourse without addressing the specific demands of the letter.

The scope of this activism is localized to the Arkane Lyon studio, which employs over 150 people. The union section behind the letter declined to disclose its exact membership numbers, though it maintains that the action represents a broader sentiment among staff who fear professional retaliation. The developers emphasize that they intend to remain at the studio to advocate for change, viewing their internal activism as a necessary response to the perceived prioritization of profit over human rights within the global technology sector.