Quebec video game companies will be affected by a new controversial language law.
The purpose of Bill 96 is to strengthen the language laws of the French-speaking province by ensuring that French is the main language spoken in everything from business to healthcare.
However, he fears that this will repel non-French-speaking people from Quebec’s significant video game industry.
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A number of major developers are based in Quebec, including Ubisoft (Immortals Fenyx Rising), Warner Bros. Games (Gotham Knights), Behavior (Dead by Daylight), Gameloft (Asphalt series) and Eidos Montreal (Guardians of the Galaxy).
More than 11,000 people are employed in the video game industry in Quebec, which generates nearly $ 1.75 billion in revenue for the province each year, according to the Quebec Ministry of Industry.
An anonymous source told the CBC that many workers in the gaming industry now want to leave Quebec.
“You can already see it when some people look at Bill 96 and say, ‘Okay, it’s time to pack up and leave,'” he said.
Since English is the default language for much of the gaming industry, he said having to learn French would repel potential workers from Quebec.
“I just don’t see Quebec companies being able to attract talent if that’s what they need [contend with],” he said.
Christopher Chancey, chairman of the board of the Guilde du jeu video du Québec, said the organization supports French as the default language in Quebec’s gaming industry.
“But we have a lot of people coming from all over the world to make video games here in Quebec,” he said. “Our fear is that this sends a message [that Québec is] does not include other crops.
“I think everyone understands the importance of the French language … I think it’s just a matter of making sure [newcomers] feel included too. ”
The newly formed Office for the Protection of the French Language told the CBC: “All sectors must contribute to efforts to ensure the sustainability of our official and common language.”
The French government recently banned the official use of English terms for games, something the Guilde du jeu video du Québec helped.
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