Ubisoft Closes Newly Unionized Studio, Workers’ Union Vows to Fight for Employee Rights

Ubisoft announced the closure of its Halifax studio yesterday, which was responsible for mobile titles like Assassin’s Creed Rebellion and Rainbow Six Mobile. This decision comes just weeks after the studio’s employees voted to unionize, leading to a worker’s group pursuing legal action.

The closure will impact 71 employees who were part of the team developing mobile adaptations of some of Ubisoft’s most popular franchises. The company has stated that this move is not connected to the recent unionization efforts.

This announcement follows a vote in favor of unionizing with the Game & Media Workers Guild of Canada and the Communications Workers of America, marking the first union certification for a North American Ubisoft team.

In a statement, Ubisoft attributed the closure to its ongoing cost-cutting measures: “Over the past 24 months, Ubisoft has undertaken company-wide actions to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and reduce costs. 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.”

CWA Canada has stepped in, not accusing Ubisoft of illegal union-busting but pursuing legal action to ensure the protection of employee rights.

“Today’s news is devastating,” said CWA Canada president Carmel Smyth. “We will pursue every legal recourse to ensure that the rights of these workers are respected and not infringed in any way.” The CWA is also seeking information from Ubisoft regarding the reasons behind the studio’s closure.

Ubisoft has been gradually reducing its workforce, with layoffs occurring as recently as late last year at Ubisoft Massive, the studio behind Star Wars Outlaws and The Division series.

CEO Yves Guillemot has also sought external support, securing significant investment from Tencent to establish a new subsidiary called Vantage Studios, which will oversee major Ubisoft franchises like Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry.