Ubisoft Montreal Faces Layoffs Amidst Assassin's Creed Development

Article Key Points

Layoffs continue to plague the gaming industry in 2023, with Ubisoft Montreal being the latest studio to announce cuts to its staff, including 98 jobs.

Layoffs have also hit other notable gaming companies this year, including Microsoft, Team17, BioWare, CD Projekt Red, Epic Games, and Bungie.

Ubisoft Montreal's restructuring will primarily impact its general and administrative teams, as well as other Canadian divisions, with the aim of optimizing resources for long-term viability. Production teams, responsible for successful titles such as Far Cry and Rainbow Six Siege, are said to be unaffected.

Assassin's Creed developer Ubisoft Montreal, unfortunately, joins the list of gaming studios issuing layoffs to their staff in the ongoing trend within the gaming industry. The year 2023 has witnessed a significant number of corporate downsizing across various video game companies. Microsoft, facing a challenging fiscal quarter, had already cut over 10,000 jobs in January, affecting subsidiaries such as 343 Industries and Bethesda. To make matters worse, Microsoft announced additional firings in July.

Regrettably, this unfortunate trend of video game layoffs extends beyond Microsoft. Throughout 2023, numerous gaming companies and developers have been forced to announce workforce reductions. This includes well-known indie studio Team17, recognized for their work on games like Worms and Golf With Your Friends. Major triple-A names like BioWare, CD Projekt Red, Epic Games, and even former Halo developer Bungie have also been impacted. The month of October proved to be especially challenging, with four Sony-owned developers letting go of employees due to economic difficulties or corporate restructuring.

Now Ubisoft Montreal, the publisher responsible for multiple recent Assassin’s Creed games, is set to lay off a portion of its workforce. As reported by Kotaku, the studio based in Canada will be reducing its staff by 98 positions in order to reorganize its general and administrative teams. This downsizing will also impact other Canadian divisions within Ubisoft, including Ubisoft IT and Ubisoft’s SFX studio Hybride, known for its contributions to the popular Disney+ TV series The Mandalorian. According to a formal announcement sent to the Quebec government, Ubisoft plans to eliminate a total of 124 positions across the company as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance long-term sustainability.

In a statement provided to Kotaku, a spokesperson from Ubisoft expressed that the recent layoffs are being taken very seriously by the studio. They assured that the restructuring will not impact the production teams at Ubisoft Montreal. These teams are renowned for creating highly successful games such as Far Cry and Rainbow Six Siege, making them the largest and most prominent within Ubisoft. However, there were previous reports in September regarding issues at Ubisoft Montreal, including delays, cancellations, and the closure of in-house studios like Ubisoft Benelux.

Typically, Ubisoft Montreal is known for its exceptional work on properties like Assassin's Creed, making layoffs at the studio rare. Unfortunately, the Canadian branch of the publisher, including Ubisoft Montreal, is facing downsizing as part of an unfavorable trend in 2023. It remains uncertain if further layoffs will occur at Ubisoft, and the impact these cuts will have on anticipated titles from Ubisoft Montreal, such as the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake and Assassin's Creed: Project Hexe, is yet to be determined.

Assassin's Creed

Editor's P/S

1. It is disheartening to hear about the layoffs at Ubisoft Montreal, particularly considering the studio's esteemed reputation for developing the Assassin's Creed franchise. The gaming industry as a whole seems to be facing significant challenges, with several notable companies being forced to make difficult decisions regarding workforce reduction. The news of layoffs at Ubisoft Montreal, on top of the numerous other studios mentioned in the article, paints a concerning picture of the current state of the industry.

2. It is important to recognize the impact that these layoffs can have on the affected employees and their families. Losing a job is never easy, and it can be especially challenging in the creative and passionate field of game development. The uncertainty surrounding the future of anticipated titles, such as the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake and Assassin's Creed: Project Hexe, adds to the anxiety and disappointment felt by fans and industry insiders alike.