Ubisoft Closes Studios in Winnipeg and Belgrade and Initiates Hundreds of New Layoffs

Ubisoft has announced a new (yet another) phase of its corporate reorganization plan that involves the closure of two development studios and further staff reductions at various locations within the group. The affected offices are those in Winnipeg, Canada, and Belgrade, Serbia, which will cease operations as part of a broader cost containment strategy.

According to sources close to the situation, the total number of employees affected by the cuts could reach up to approximately 380 people. This marks yet another downsizing effort impacting the French publisher, which has long been engaged in a complex internal restructuring. One of the locations most affected appears to be Barcelona, where reports indicate that 51 workers will lose their jobs, a figure that would represent almost a third of the workforce at the Spanish studio.

Simultaneously, Ubisoft Barcelona will modify its role within the company, focusing all future activities exclusively on the Rainbow Six franchise. In the past, the studio had collaborated on the development of numerous intellectual properties of the group, including Assassin's Creed, The Crew, Ghost Recon, and Immortals: Fenyx Rising. The decision thus marks a significant shift in the distribution of resources and expertise within the company.

Ubisoft, Layoffs, and an Unstable Reorganization

These new measures come during a particularly delicate period for Ubisoft. The company is undergoing a deep organizational transformation while the Guillemot family, the founder of the group, continues to work to maintain control of the company. At the same time, hundreds of employees have already lost their jobs in recent months due to various cost-cutting operations.

Another element characterizing the current business strategy is the growing interest in artificial intelligence. Ubisoft is increasing investments in this sector, with particular attention to generative AI technologies applied to video game development. However, this choice continues to generate debates and criticism within the industry.

The reorganization has also led to the creation of five major creative divisions tasked with managing the group's key properties. The most important, called Vantage Studios, is led by Charlie Guillemot, son of CEO Yves Guillemot. We will have to see what the future holds for a company like Ubisoft and its IPs.