Ubisoft to Close Halifax Studio, Impacting 71 Employees

Ubisoft has confirmed the shutdown of its Halifax studio in Canada, which was focused on developing mobile games for popular franchises like Rainbow Six and Assassin's Creed, resulting in the loss of 71 jobs. The announcement comes shortly after the studio's employees formed Ubisoft's first labor union in North America, marking the culmination of a process that began in June 2025. According to Ubisoft, the decision to close the studio is a result of its ongoing efforts to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and reduce costs, a process that has been underway for the past two years and has already led to significant layoffs across its studios. In a statement, the company explained, "As part of our company-wide actions to enhance efficiency and reduce costs over the past 24 months, we have made the difficult decision to close our Halifax studio, affecting 71 positions. We are committed to providing comprehensive support to all impacted team members, including severance packages and career assistance." A spokesperson for Ubisoft emphasized that the closure is a result of cost-cutting measures that started after the pandemic, prior to the unionization process in Halifax, and that the company remains committed to working with unionized staff globally. This move is the latest in a series of cutbacks at Ubisoft, following recent job losses at RedLynx and Massive, and the spin-off of its main franchises into a separate business backed by 1.16 billion euros from Tencent. Originally founded as Longtail Studios Halifax in 2010, the studio was acquired by Ubisoft in 2015 and worked on notable titles such as Rocksmith, Rainbow Six Mobile, and Assassin's Creed Rebellion. The shutdown will also result in the cessation of live operations for Assassin's Creed Rebellion, which has seen a steady decline in revenue.