Ubisoft is cutting 380 roles and closing its Winnipeg and Belgrade studios as part of a multi-year restructuring plan. According to GamesIndustry.biz, the company is also narrowing the focus of its Barcelona office to the Rainbow Six franchise and reducing its global publishing workforce. This move follows a string of cost-cutting measures intended to generate €200 million in annual savings.
Why is Ubisoft restructuring its global studios?
Ubisoft’s latest round of layoffs is driven by a strategy to reduce operating costs following a sharp decline in revenue and net bookings. According to the company’s recent financial reports, these cuts are part of a broader “final” restructuring effort announced in January. The firm expects the current financial year to represent a low point in its free cash flow, largely due to the significant costs associated with these redundancy processes.
Ubisoft Belgrade, which is slated for closure, was established in 2016 and contributed to major titles including Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced and Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
How do these cuts affect the current release slate?
The company is shifting its focus toward a leaner release schedule, prioritizing remakes over original large-scale projects. Sources indicate that Ubisoft’s current lineup is headed by Black Flag Resynced and Rayman Legends Retold. This follows the closure of XDefiant, a free-to-play title that previously occupied resources at the now-affected Winnipeg studio. By narrowing the scope of studios like Ubisoft Barcelona to specific franchises, the company aims to concentrate its remaining talent on high-priority intellectual properties.
What is the impact on the global publishing organization?
In addition to studio closures, Ubisoft has conducted layoffs across its global publishing teams. While the exact number of departures remains fluid due to regional labor laws and ongoing redundancy consultations, the impact is widespread across multiple offices. Local reports from Spain, cited by GamesIndustry.biz, suggest that 61 jobs were affected at the Barcelona site alone. This internal contraction reflects a five-year trend of consolidation within the publisher.
When tracking corporate restructuring in the gaming industry, focus on “free cash flow” projections in quarterly earnings reports. These figures often provide a clearer picture of future layoffs than public press releases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which studios are closing?
Ubisoft is closing its studios in Winnipeg, Canada, and Belgrade, Serbia.
How many jobs are at risk?
Ubisoft has identified 380 roles at risk as part of this specific restructuring phase.
Why is Ubisoft Barcelona changing its focus?
The company is proposing to focus the Barcelona studio exclusively on the Rainbow Six franchise to streamline production and efficiency.
Is this the first round of layoffs at Ubisoft?
No. Ubisoft has been implementing various rounds of cost-cutting for five years, with the current phase intended to complete a €200 million savings target.
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