Ubisoft's Ongoing Struggles Lead to Further Layoffs

Ubisoft is implementing further restructuring measures which will lead to more layoffs. Our Website has confirmed that the company will be cutting 98 positions from its Canadian workforce and a total of 124 positions overall in its latest staff reduction. The year 2023 has been characterized by numerous layoffs in the game development industry, indicating an ongoing trend.

According to a statement provided to Our Website, a spokesperson for Ubisoft stated that "every team" within the company has been actively seeking ways to streamline their operations over the past few months, and unfortunately, layoffs are a part of that process.

Today, we have announced the reorganization of our Canadian studios' general and administrative functions, resulting in a reduction of headcount in Hybride (our VFX studio based in Montreal) and our global IT team. This decision affects a total of 124 positions. We want to emphasize that these decisions were not made lightly, and we are offering comprehensive support to our colleagues who will be leaving Ubisoft during this transition. We would also like to express our deep gratitude and respect for their significant contributions to the company. It is important to note that this restructuring does not impact our production teams. The 98 positions being cut from Ubisoft's teams in Canada account for 2% of the company's workforce in the country.

Ubisoft's Hybride team is involved in game development as well as the production of notable titles such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, along with the Ari Aster film Beau is Afraid and the Jack Reacher TV series for Amazon. Reports of layoffs at Ubisoft were initially covered by Kotaku.

In October, Ubisoft revealed that it had reduced its workforce by 1,000 employees over the past year, resulting in a global staff count of 19,410. This downsizing is part of Ubisoft's extensive cost-reduction strategy aimed at enhancing profitability and satisfying investor demands.

In 2023, several prominent gaming companies, such as Epic, EA, Amazon, Microsoft, and Embracer, have laid off employees. It is estimated that the gaming industry has witnessed a loss of over 6,000 jobs this year.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I'm deeply concerned about the ongoing layoffs in the game development industry, particularly the recent news of Ubisoft's restructuring and job cuts. It's disheartening to see talented developers losing their jobs, and it raises concerns about the stability and future of the industry.

The fact that over 6,000 jobs have been lost in the gaming industry this year alone is alarming. It's important for companies like Ubisoft to prioritize the well-being and job security of their employees, as they are the backbone of the industry. I hope that Ubisoft and other gaming companies will take steps to mitigate the impact of these layoffs and ensure that affected employees receive the support they need during this difficult time.