Union claims Nacon’s decision to shutter Spiders was a “premeditated and deliberate choice”
French video game workers’ union Syndicat des Travailleureuses du Jeu Vidéo (STJV) has condemned Nacon’s closure of Spiders studio as a “premeditated and deliberate choice,” calling for a boycott of the publisher. The decision has affected 71 workers at the studio.
The closure came as part of Nacon’s broader financial restructuring efforts. In March, the French publisher initiated court-supervised reorganization proceedings to address mounting debt, following which four subsidiaries—Spiders, Kylotonn, Cyanice, and Nacon Tech—filed for insolvency.
While Nacon has officially attributed Spiders’ closure to insufficient profitability and a lack of future projects in development, the union disputes this narrative. STJV’s characterization of the decision as deliberate suggests the union believes the studio’s shutdown was not a necessary consequence of market conditions but rather a strategic choice by management.
The union’s call for a boycott reflects growing labor activism within the gaming industry, as workers’ organizations increasingly challenge corporate restructuring decisions that result in mass layoffs. This action highlights ongoing tensions between major publishers and labor groups over job security and working conditions.