French video game studio Ubisoft has announced the closure of Ubisoft Halifax, the company’s Canadian studio, as part of company-wide cost-cutting strategies. The studio’s closure will affect more than 70 employees’ positions. The company’s Nova Scotia-based studio — the team behind Ubisoft’s mobile games like “Assassin’s Creed Rebellion” — made headlines late last month after 61 employees joined the Game & Media Workers Guild of Canada.
The union was officially certified six months after employees’ efforts began, making Ubisoft Halifax the first North American Ubisoft team to unionize. Nearly three-quarters of employees (74%) voted in favor of unionization efforts.
In a new statement to VGC, Ubisoft said its decision to shutter its Halifax studio was established “well before” workers’ unionization efforts. The embattled French studio also said it “fully respects” employees’ right to unionize.
“Over the past 24 months, Ubisoft has undertaken company-wide actions to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and reduce costs,” Ubisoft said in its statement to VGC. “As part of this, Ubisoft has made the difficult decision to close its Halifax studio. 71 positions will be affected. We are committed to supporting all impacted team members during this transition with resources, including comprehensive severance packages and additional career assistance.”
Uh-oh, Ubisoft
Ubisoft Halifax isn’t the first round of layoffs for Ubisoft in recent months. The brand eliminated nearly 200 positions in January 2025 and an additional 19 in July. Three months later, the company eliminated nine roles within its publishing team to “ensure a smooth and swift launch” of its collaborative venture with Chinese-owned tech conglomerate Tencent. Word of the joint endeavor, called Vantage Studios, first spread in January 2025. Ubisoft officially revealed its new subsidiary just two months later, with Tencent on board as a minority stakeholder.
Founded in the 1980s, Ubisoft is perhaps best known for game franchises like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Rainbow Six, and more.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to Outrun Gaming for more information.
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