French presidential hopeful wants to 'retake control' of video games

July 4, 2026 - 18:05

Jean-Luc Melenchon, the hard-left French presidential candidate known for his push to nationalize essential services, surprised many on Friday by taking a firm stance on a very different kind of property: video games. In a statement that blended populist rhetoric with digital-age concerns, Melenchon argued that the French state must "retake control" of the video game sector, which he claims has been ceded to foreign tech giants and corporate interests.

The candidate did not call for outright nationalization of game studios, but instead proposed a regulatory overhaul that would prioritize French cultural sovereignty. He criticized the dominance of American and Asian platforms, arguing that they impose foreign values on French youth and extract profits without contributing to local economies. "Our children's imagination is being colonized," Melenchon said, calling for a "patriotic and digital awakening."

His proposal includes stricter content regulations, tax incentives for independent French developers, and a public fund to support games that reflect French history and language. Critics on the right dismissed the plan as another example of state overreach, while some in the gaming industry questioned whether such intervention could stifle creativity. Melenchon, however, framed it as a matter of national pride, insisting that France must not surrender its cultural influence to Silicon Valley or Beijing.