• Business News Ishtar Games told to pay damages for illegally terminating workers The Dead in Bermuda and The Last Spell developer has chosen not to appeal the ruling. • February 19, 2026 French indie studio Ishtar Games has been forced to compensate three workers who were illegally dismissed. • As noted by French union Le Syndicat des Travailleureuses du Jeu Vidéo(STJV), the studio has been told to pay €7,000 in damages to each employee and refund a month of unemployment benefits to the state. • STJV explained it helped all three impacted employees fight the dismissal in a French labor court. • It said the trio were initially offered redundancy-alongside other colleagues-but ultimately refused due to being offered sub-standard severance packages. • A few weeks later, all three were fired by Ishtar for “professional incompetence”-but chose to successfully fight back with assistance from STJV.

Article Summaries:

  • French indie studio Ishtar Games has been ordered to compensate three employees who were illegally dismissed. A French labor court, following a case brought by the union Le Syndicat des Travailleureuses du Jeu Vidéo (STJV), ruled that the dismissals were without real cause. The studio must pay €7,000 in damages to each worker, refund a month of unemployment benefits to the state, and provide three months’ advance notice pay instead of the previously offered five‑week notice. Ishtar did not appeal, making the decision final. STJV highlighted the ruling as a win against “company authoritarianism.”

Sources: