Ubisoft is continuing its major restructuring efforts, which have now led to the sudden closure of two important support studios: Ubisoft Winnipeg in Canada and Ubisoft Belgrade in Serbia. Ubisoft Winnipeg was established in 2018 and focused on technology development, graphics engine creation, and co-development tools for the company's open-world and multiplayer games, including Far Cry 6 and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. The decision resulted in around 85 direct job losses. However, the shutdown also affected roughly 120 developers who were working in support roles for Rainbow Six Siege. Ubisoft Closes Two Studios as Restructuring Continues Another 50 employees involved with
They reported a €1.3 billion loss for the past financial year, so clearly not many are opening their wallets for them.
We don’t have sales numbers to work with, but they sponsor videos and do all kinds of stuff. Especially with all the AI hype, they could be unwisely using their money. Only they know that, however. They’ve not done right by many of their employees nor consumers for more than the last fiscal year, though.
In general, the whole ‘game studio builds thing then lays people off’ is just gross to me. Here in Japan, we don’t have that because it would be illegal. Companies have to be more prudent in their hiring, planning, spending, and saving. All workers should have those rights and I try to avoid giving money to companies that do not grant them.
While I praise the approach of careful hiring and not laying people off, Japan unfortunately also has plenty of employment trends no one should imitate.
I didn’t state anywhere that they should. It’s possible to implement some of a system without other parts (in this case, increasing protections and stability for employees), and I’d like to see that done. As someone who lives and works in Japan, I definitely don’t think anyone should be imitating all of it.
Case closed - they are not doing good; they are not rewarded. No need to write a fantasy novel. It’s okay to be wrong sometimes.
What’s with the snark?
Consumers giving money to a company tells the company they support (or at least tolerate) what the company is doing. That is what I mean by rewarding this behavior.