Ubisoft has confirmed the closure of its Halifax studio in Canada, a move that will affect 71 jobs. The announcement came on Wednesday, January 7, just weeks after a significant portion of the studio’s employees voted to unionise.
The decision has shocked the staff, with many left reeling from the sudden closure. Ubisoft has maintained that the shutdown is unrelated to the recent union vote and is part of the company’s broader restructuring and cost-cutting initiatives.
Impact on Staff and Studio’s Legacy
Ubisoft Halifax was best known for developing Assassin’s Creed Rebellion, a free-to-play mobile strategy game in the popular Assassin’s Creed franchise.
In December 2024, around 60 employees at the studio voted in favour of unionising, joining CWA Canada after 74% of staff supported the move. This vote marked a significant shift in the studio’s internal structure, with workers seeking better representation and protections.
However, Ubisoft has stated that the decision to close the Halifax studio had been made “well before” the union vote. The company reiterated its respect for employees’ rights to unionise but emphasised that the closure was a result of ongoing restructuring efforts aimed at improving efficiency and reducing costs.
Ubisoft’s Global Restructuring Efforts
In a statement, Ubisoft confirmed that the Halifax studio closure is part of a larger company-wide effort to streamline operations. Over the past two years, the company has undertaken various actions to improve efficiency, and the closure of the Halifax studio is a continuation of that process.
Ubisoft assured impacted employees that they would receive comprehensive severance packages and additional career assistance during the transition.
Industry Reaction and Legal Concerns
CWA Canada President Carmel Smyth called the closure “devastating” and pledged to pursue every legal recourse to ensure the rights of the affected workers are respected. This is the latest in a series of studio closures by Ubisoft, which has been facing significant financial restructuring in recent years.
Last year, Ubisoft closed its Leamington studio in the UK and made redundancies at offices in Düsseldorf, Stockholm, and Newcastle. The company also cancelled its XDefiant free-to-play shooter in December 2024, leading to the closure of its studios in San Francisco and Osaka.
What’s Next for Ubisoft?
Ubisoft has indicated that the company is shifting towards a more decentralised operating model, giving creative teams greater control over its major brands, such as Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry. This restructuring is also occurring amidst growing speculation about a potential takeover.
Reports suggest that Ubisoft is looking for new investors, with Chinese conglomerate Tencent recently investing around $1.25 billion to help launch a new subsidiary called Vantage Studios, which houses Ubisoft’s major franchises.
