Ubisoft just killed its Halifax studio right after it unionized, but says the shutdown was decided “well before” — over 70 developers have been affected

by

The gaming industry has seen many layoffs and studio closures recently, and now, in 2026, Ubisoft has announced it’s closing its Halifax studio – the first major closure of the year.

News broke on Wednesday morning that Ubisoft is closing its Halifax studio. The information came from an internal email obtained by VGC. Ubisoft, the company behind mobile games like Assassin’s Creed Rebellion and Rainbow Six Mobile, is restructuring and cutting costs, and the Halifax location is part of those changes.

In the last two years, Ubisoft has been working to simplify its business, become more efficient, and lower expenses. As a result of these efforts, the company has decided to close its studio in Halifax, a difficult decision according to a Ubisoft representative who spoke with VGC.

This change will affect 71 jobs. We’re dedicated to helping those affected through this transition, offering support like severance pay and help with finding new jobs, according to a company spokesperson.

Following the announcement, several developers from the studio shared the news on LinkedIn. One wrote, “Tomorrow marks eight years with Ubisoft Halifax – it’s been an incredible experience.” Another expressed shock and concern, stating, “The closure of Ubisoft Halifax will have a significant impact on everyone here.”

The closure of Ubisoft Halifax happened shortly after its employees voted to form a union. In June, they announced their intention to unionize, and in December, 61 employees officially joined the Game & Media Workers Guild of Canada, Local 30111. This made Ubisoft Halifax the first of the company’s North American studios to be unionized, with certification coming on December 18th.

Despite the lengthy certification process, we remain committed to working with Ubisoft,” said lead programmer Jon Huffman in an interview with CTV News. “We enjoy our jobs and the people we work with, and we plan to stay with the company for the foreseeable future.”

The closing of Ubisoft Halifax is especially upsetting, and many people think the studio’s shutdown was linked to the recent union formation, at least in part. However, Ubisoft claims the decision to close the studio was made long before the unionization effort and that they fully support their employees’ right to organize.

In addition to developing Assassin’s Creed Rebellion and Rainbow Six Mobile, Ubisoft Halifax was also creating some new, unrevealed games. It’s currently unknown whether these projects have been cancelled or if development has shifted to other Ubisoft studios.

Ubisoft has faced challenges recently, with games like Star Wars Outlaws not performing as well as expected. These difficulties likely prompted their deal with Tencent last year, where Tencent invested around $1.2 billion for a 25% ownership stake in Ubisoft and the rights to publish games in the Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six franchises.

Do you think Ubisoft will improve its performance in the next few months and years, or do you expect things to get more difficult for them? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Read More

2026-01-07 22:39