Ubisoft recently announced that it would be laying off 185 employees alongside shutting down one of its studios. According to an alleged internal memo (via Insider Gaming), it’s referred to the move as one made for “finding more efficient operating models and to ensure our long-term success.”
It also reportedly revealed a breakdown of the recent layoffs: Around 65 employees from Ubisoft Dusseldorf, 100 from Ubisoft Leamington and Reflections, and around 20 from Ubisoft Stockholm. Of these studios, Ubisoft Leamington was the only one that closed down.
The memo also talks about the reasoning behind the layoffs, which Production Zone 4 managing director Benedikt Grindel ascribes to wanting to improve the studios’ operational efficiency.
“I understand the uncertainty these changes will bring,” said Grindel. “We are committed to supporting everyone impacted during this transition. Let me assure you, these decisions were not made lightly. We believe they are essential to improve our operational efficiency and ensure the long-term sustainability of our studios, the zone and the company.”
Production Zone 3 and Ubisoft Stockholm managing director Thomas Andren had also spoken to the team, talking about the difficulty of the decision.
“We know this decision impacts more than just the studio and its projects; it impacts people – our colleagues, teammates, and friends. We deeply understand how difficult this is, and supporting everyone through this transition is our utmost priority,” he said.
“While difficult, the changes announced yesterday are targeted at us finding more efficient operating models and to ensure our long-term success,” continued Andren’s message to the team. “This is driven by a strong conviction: our ability to keep creating and operating unique, powerful, and popular brands that extend beyond video games.”
Ubisoft Leamington was originally known as FreeStyleGames and was responsible for titles like the DJ Hero franchise before being acquired by Ubisoft. After the acquisition, its name changed, and it became a support studio for major Ubisoft releases, including Far Cry 5 and Star Wars Outlaws.
“As part of our ongoing efforts to prioritize projects and reduce costs that ensure long-term stability at Ubisoft, we have announced targeted restructurings at Ubisoft Düsseldorf, Ubisoft Stockholm and Ubisoft Reflections and the permanent closure of Ubisoft Leamington site,” said Ubisoft in a statement about the layoffs. “Unfortunately, this should impact 185 employees overall. We are deeply grateful for their contributions and are committed to supporting them through this transition.”
This move towards more “efficiency” might be a part of the rumoured plans between Ubisoft founders the Guillemot family and Tencent to forge a new venture. The company has also previously announced that it is hiring advisors to explore how more value could be extracted from the company’s various assets.
Ubisoft is currently gearing up to launch Assassin’s Creed Shadows on March 20. It will be coming to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S and will launch alongside the Animus Hub, which will serve as the new home for the franchise. For more details about the game, check out the developers talking about Yasuke not having Assassin abilities, and learn more about the new accessibility features and options.