Ubisoft Closes Recently Unionized Halifax Studio

Ubisoft has officially shuttered its Halifax-based studio, a satellite branch known for its contributions to the Rocksmith franchise and mobile adaptations of Assassin’s Creed and Rainbow Six. This sudden closure has resulted in the displacement of 71 staff members.

The timing of the announcement has drawn significant attention, occurring a mere 48 hours after the workforce successfully formalized their union. By joining the Game & Media Workers Guild of Canada, the 61-member group established the first North American labor union in Ubisoft’s history—a milestone following their initial intent to organize earlier this year.

In a statement issued to Video Games Chronicle, Ubisoft asserted that the decision to dissolve the Halifax office was finalized “well in advance” of the unionization vote. The publisher characterized the move as a necessary component of a global restructuring initiative designed to “streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and reduce overhead costs.” Despite the optics, the company maintained that it “fully respects” the rights of its employees to organize and pledged to provide career transition assistance and severance packages to those impacted.

Originally established in 2010 as Longtail Studios, the team was instrumental in the development of Rocksmith 2014 before being acquired by Ubisoft in 2015. Since the acquisition, the Halifax branch spearheaded the 2018 strategy title Assassin’s Creed Rebellion and contributed to the upcoming Rainbow Six Mobile, which is currently slated for a February 23 debut.

This closure marks the latest chapter in a turbulent period for the publisher, which has recently implemented staffing cuts at Massive Entertainment and RedLynx as part of an ongoing reorganization. These efforts coincide with the recent launch of Vantage Studios—a subsidiary partially owned by Tencent—which was created to centralize the management of Ubisoft’s flagship properties, including Far Cry and Assassin’s Creed.

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