4 months ago
Ubisoft is closing a Canadian workplace conscionable complete 2 weeks aft it unionized. In a dizzying claim, nan institution told GamesIndustry.biz that nan closure of Ubisoft Halifax was portion of "company-wide actions to streamline operations" and unrelated to nan unionization.
On December 22, Ubisoft Halifax announced that 61 of its workers had joined nan Game & Media Workers Guild of Canada. At nan time, nan studio's lead programmer, Jon Huffman, told CTV News that 73.8 percent of labor voted successful favour of unionizing. Ominously successful hindsight, he had described nan determination arsenic a "huge relief." The workplace was moving connected mobile titles wrong nan Rainbow Six and Assassin's Creed franchises.
Ubisoft's charismatic connection framed nan shutdown arsenic portion of a broader shape of financial belt-tightening. "Over nan past 24 months, Ubisoft has undertaken company-wide actions to streamline operations, amended efficiency, and trim costs," nan institution said. "As portion of this, Ubisoft has made nan difficult determination to adjacent its Halifax studio. 71 positions will beryllium affected. We are committed to supporting each impacted squad members during this modulation pinch resources, including broad severance packages and further profession assistance."
In October, Ubisoft announced that Massive Entertainment, developer of The Division series, Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, was offering buyouts to immoderate employees. The institution framed that move arsenic a "voluntary profession modulation program." Over nan past fewer years, Ubisoft has closed offices and laid disconnected workers successful San Francisco, London and Leamington. In 2024, nan company's headcount dropped by 8 percent.
