Ubisoft, a prominent software company, has made the decision to shutter its studio in Halifax, resulting in 71 employees losing their jobs. This move comes as part of Ubisoft’s broader efforts to enhance operational efficiency and reduce expenses, a strategy that has been ongoing for the past two years.
According to a company spokesperson, Antoine Leduc-Labelle, the closure was driven by declining revenues of the studio’s project, Assassin’s Creed Rebellion, which has been facing financial challenges since its launch in 2018. The studio’s workforce had recently formed a union in late December, marking a significant development within Ubisoft’s North American operations.
T.J. Gillis, a senior server developer with five years of experience at Ubisoft Halifax, expressed dismay at the sudden closure announcement during a staff meeting. Gillis highlighted the industry trend of studios closing down, citing this as a key reason for the unionization efforts by the employees. The closure has left game developers in the province with limited job prospects, following the closure of Microsoft’s Alpha Dog studio in Halifax in 2024.
The union, CWA Canada, intends to seek clarification from Ubisoft regarding the reasons behind the abrupt closure, with its president, Carmel Smyth, emphasizing the importance of transparency in the process. Gillis lamented the loss of years’ worth of collaborative work and projects due to the studio’s closure, underscoring the emotional impact on the employees.
This development underscores the challenges faced by the gaming industry workforce and the need for greater job security and industry stability for game developers in Nova Scotia.