More than 50% of Paradox Interactive employees are said to be considering leaving the company. Moving away from remote work is to blame

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A significant number of workers at Paradox Interactive are contemplating quitting due to the controversial choice to bring back on-site work.

One consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic was the increased adoption of remote work, extending to sectors like the gaming industry as well. This transition proved advantageous for many individuals who faced challenges working in traditional office environments. However, this setup wasn’t ideal for publishers or studios, as online discussions couldn’t replace the richness and effectiveness of face-to-face conversations.

Increasingly, businesses across sectors, such as those in the gaming industry, are implementing “back to office” programs. These initiatives, however, may inadvertently require employees to relinquish remote work, as seen by Rockstar Games and Paradox Interactive’s recent decisions. Yet, these choices have not been without controversy, as evidenced by a case with a Cloud Imperium Games employee last year, and raised concerns among the Grand Theft Auto series creators and Ubisoft staff.

Hybrid work is outdated

2024 wrapped up and I, as a dedicated gamer and developer, received exciting news – starting February this year, we were transitioning back to remote work! This decision was made public through Game Developer announcements and had been long awaited since our hybrid work setup started several years ago. In this setup, we had the flexibility to work off-site, but still had to show up at the studio thrice a week. The idea was to keep us connected when needed, while cutting down on expenses related to commuting, childcare, and more. It seemed like a win-win situation for everyone involved!

Initially, the company planned to transition fully to remote work by September 2025. However, Paradox recently imposed a rule that employees must be present four times a week, which has been met with resistance among staff. The implementation of this change appears to have been disorderly, as suggested by the GD editorial team’s findings.

According to Mattias Lilja, CEO of Paradox, the general assumption is that employees should be in the office, not because it’s a personal choice, but it’s the expected norm. The company might provide more flexible work schedules considering each employee’s unique situation. Employees working remotely from outside Stockholm won’t be compelled to move closer to the Paradox office.

As a dedicated gamer, I can tell you that Game Development (GD) has been clear about their readiness to adjust their strategies promptly in the face of any “overwhelmingly negative” consequences from our decisions. And it seems like we might be seeing this very soon, if what GD’s associates are saying is true.

Stationary productivity?

Following the unveiling of these strategies and a discussion with staff where it was clarified that no “voting” would take place and the company needed to discover more efficient ways to operate, a poll carried out by Unionen and SACO trade unions revealed that over half (54%) of employees were contemplating job changes, with 20% actively searching for new jobs at that moment.

At a recent “all-hands” gathering (a meeting for all employees), it became evident through emoji expressions that remote workers were dissatisfied with Paradox’s plans. This discontent halted discussions on other matters, leading to another meeting being proposed but ultimately not held. Instead, managers shared the necessary information with everyone involved.

As a passionate advocate, I too share the sentiments of these trade union representatives. Primarily, their concerns revolve around safety matters. Interestingly, they’ve indicated a preference for dialogue on these issues post the declaration of transitioning completely away from the hybrid work model.

There is uncertainty among staff members about whether hybrid work truly affects the productivity of Paradox branches. Some anticipate a wave of departures this summer, particularly after developers receive their profit-sharing payments and return from their summer breaks. This exodus could potentially involve crucial employees, which might impact the quality of Paradox’s games significantly.

As a dedicated gamer, I firmly believe that the effects of these recent changes in Paradox Interactive will start to unfold within the next 12 to 18 months. By then, it should become evident whether Paradox made the correct call or if the apprehensions expressed by their employees were justified.

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2025-04-26 01:02