Ubisoft shuts down UK studio and cuts 185 jobs in major restructuring

The company tightens its belt.
Ubisoft logo with green aurora backdrop
(Image via Ubisoft)
TL;DR
  • Ubisoft closes its Leamington studio and lays off 185 employees across multiple locations.
  • The restructuring aims to cut costs and focus on core projects amid industry challenges.
  • This move highlights the pressures faced by major game developers in balancing profits with innovation.

Ubisoft, the gaming giant behind franchises like Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry, has announced a significant restructuring. The company is closing its Leamington studio in the UK and laying off 185 employees across multiple locations. This move comes as part of Ubisoft’s efforts to cut costs and focus on its core projects.

The Leamington studio, formerly known as FreeStyleGames, was best known for developing the DJ Hero series before Ubisoft acquired it. In recent years, it had shifted to a supporting role, contributing to major titles like Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR.

Other affected locations include Ubisoft Düsseldorf, Stockholm, and Reflections. These studios have played crucial roles in developing various Ubisoft projects, including VR games and entries in The Settlers series.

Ubisoft stated that these actions were necessary for long-term stability. The company aims to prioritize its most promising projects and reduce costs in an increasingly competitive market. This decision reflects broader challenges Ubisoft has faced in recent years, including delayed projects and criticism for releasing games that some players view as formulaic.

The gaming industry has been watching Ubisoft closely as it struggles to adapt to changing player preferences and market demands. The company’s focus on large-scale open-world games and attempts to break into the live-service market have met with mixed results. Games like X-Defiant, for example, failed to gain the traction Ubisoft had hoped for.

This restructuring brings attention to the ongoing pressure on major game developers to deliver high profit margins while maintaining game quality and player interest. It also shows how support studios often bear the brunt of cost-cutting measures despite their valuable contributions to game development.

For Ubisoft, this move may signal a shift towards doubling down on its most profitable franchises. However, this strategy could potentially limit the company’s ability to innovate and create new intellectual properties.

Community Reactions
How do you feel about this story?
👍
0
👎
0
😂
0
😡
0
😢
0
Explore More
Meet the Editor