While Ubisoft has been adamant about the development of the Splinter Cell Remake continuing, the company has continued its cost-cutting plans with a fresh slate of lay-offs, this time affecting the studio working on the remake. In a statement (via IGN), a spokesperson for the company has confirmed that 40 employees of Ubisoft Toronto will be affected by this move.
“Following the recent announcement of the final phase of Ubisoft’s global cost-savings plan and the discontinuation of projects, Ubisoft Toronto will be reducing its workforce by 40 roles,” said the spokesperson. “This decision was not taken lightly and does not in any way reflect the talent, dedication, or contributions of the individuals affected. Our priority now is to support them through this transition with comprehensive severance packages and robust career placement assistance.”
“The Toronto studio continues development on the Splinter Cell game and serves as a co-development partner on Rainbow Six, along with supporting additional co-development projects.”
Ubisoft had announced its major organizational overhaul last month, and in the process, cancelled six projects, one of which was Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake. The title was joined by 5 unannounced other games in being cancelled. The cost-cutting measures have also involved the closure of two other Ubisoft studios – Halifax and Stockholm – and moving forward, the company is adopting a new structure that will revolve around five Creative Houses, each one being responsible for certain franchises, genres, and demographics.
A recent rumor has indicated that Ubisoft has also cancelled co-op shooter Pathfinder, which was previously known as Project U. An Assassin’s Creed game being made for mobiles, with plans for an eventual PC release, was also among those cancelled.
Since this major announcement, Ubisoft has been getting quite a bit of criticism from its France-based employees. Earlier this month, at least 1,200 employees kicked off a three-day strike in response to the cost-cutting. Solidaires Infomatique representative Marc Rutschlé noted that employees had been working under pressure, while also being understaffed, and had gone several years without pay rises.
“At this stage, it seems clear to us that Yves Guillemot has no knowledge or understanding of his company or its employees,” he said. “The company is continuing its cost reduction and layoff plan. Our teams are already working under pressure, often understaffed. After several years without pay rises (or very small increases), we understand that once again, employees will not receive a raise this year.”
The strike came shortly after Rutschlé, alongside fellow union representative Chakib Mataoui, called for the resignation of Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot. The two called out the company for its blatant nepotism, pointing to Yves appointing his son Charlie as CEO of Vantage Studios, as well as the lack of diversity in top management.
“If you just put your white male friends in [those jobs], then you don’t promote any diversity or get any new opinions or ideas,” said Mataoui. “We are in a creative job. We need new ideas to come in to [help us] make great new games. But we don’t have that. We don’t have this mindset for creativity.”
