Workers at Ubisoft Barcelona have begun a three-day strike following the studio’s recent decision to lay off more than 50 workers as it continues comprehensive restructuring efforts. Word of potential layoffs at the studio’s Barcelona branch first arose early last month amid cuts at Ubisoft’s Winnipeg and Belgrade offices. The demonstration will run from now through Thursday, July 16, 2026.
Ubisoft Barcelona’s strikes follow the brand’s confirmation that the latest installment in the Assassin’s Creed IP “sold 2 million copies […] on its first day following its July 9 release.” The game has also broken the series’ Steam all-time player peak, exceeding the previous record by nearly 40,000. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced user data does not reflect user counts from Ubisoft Connect or from players on PlayStation and XBOX consoles.
Employees at the Barcelona studio are reportedly behind the game’s “underwater levels,” according to a social media post by Ubisoft Barcelona Tech & Gameplay Animator Manel Cota. The Ubisoft Barcelona animator responded to another X user’s post acknowledging Black Flag Resynced‘s “incredible underwater exploration and advanced water tech.” Cota replied: “Thanks! Ubisoft Barcelona did all the underwater levels. And that same team is being fired right now because Ubisoft thinks thats what we deserve :)” Cota’s comment, published 18 hours ago, has been viewed more than 4 million times.
Another employee’s social media post — this time, on LinkedIn — acknowledges the layoffs and names themselves among those losing their jobs. “Today is a bittersweet day,” starts a heartfelt and transparent post from Ubisoft Barcelona QA/QC Lead, Isabel Codina García. “Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced releases today, the project I have been working on for the past 2.5 years. However, two weeks before launch, the whole AC team at Ubisoft Barcelona was informed of a collective redundancy plan (ERE). Vantage Studios has stated there will not be further mandates for the Barcelona studio, despite the team proposing new AC projects. 51 people, myself included, will be affected by the end of July.”
“After 7 years at Ubisoft Barcelona, this is not how I imagined it would end. But I am genuinely grateful for the people I have met and everything I have learned along the way.”
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to Outrun Gaming for more information as it becomes available.
