Ubisoft is reportedly closing two studios, Ubisoft Winnipeg and Ubisoft Belgrade, as part of a restructuring effort that will lead to approximately 380 layoffs. Insider Gaming initially reported the closures, later corroborated by Game Developer and VGC.
Ubisoft Winnipeg primarily functioned as a support and tech studio, developing the Anvil and Snowdrop engines. Ubisoft Belgrade served as a co-developer for several projects, including Ghost Recon Wildlands, The Crew 2, and Skull and Bones. Following the restructuring, Ubisoft Barcelona will now focus exclusively on developing and supporting Rainbow Six projects.
The layoffs were communicated internally, with employees being informed during a management meeting this week. Additionally, the cuts will impact the Ubisoft Montreal studio, particularly affecting the Rainbow Six Siege development team and personnel working on Rainbow Six Siege Mobile.
This marks the third round of layoffs for Ubisoft in 2023. In March, the company laid off over 100 employees at Red Storm Entertainment, which has since transitioned to supporting Ubisoft’s Snowdrop engine and other technical operations instead of producing its own games.
Earlier this year, Ubisoft also closed its Halifax and Stockholm studios and reduced its workforce at Ubisoft Abu Dhabi, Redlynx, and Massive Entertainment as part of a significant restructuring. In October 2022, Ubisoft announced a €1.16 billion investment from Tencent, which resulted in the formation of Vantage Studios, aimed at focusing on major franchises such as Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six.
Ubisoft is currently pursuing a cost-cutting initiative to reorganize teams and concentrate on its most lucrative franchises. Tencent holds a 25 percent stake in Vantage Studios, while creative responsibilities are managed by Christophe Derennes and Charlie Guillemot, the son of Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot. Vantage teams reportedly enjoy greater ownership over their projects, differing from Ubisoft’s traditional centralized development approach.
