Ubisoft to Close Winnipeg and Belgrade Studios, Plans Further Layoffs
Ubisoft announced the shutdown of its Winnipeg and Belgrade studios and additional layoffs affecting up to 380 employees as part of a broader restructuring effort.
Ubisoft said it is simplifying operations and reducing costs, prompting the closure of its Winnipeg studio, which opened in 2019 and supported titles such as Rainbow Six Mobile, Far Cry 6 and Assassin's Creed Valhalla. The shutdown affects about 65 staff members. The Belgrade studio, operating since 2016 and involved in projects including the recently announced Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, will also close, impacting roughly 100 employees.
The company also disclosed layoffs at its Barcelona studio, affecting 51 workers, and at its San Francisco location, where the number of affected staff was described as "dozens". Ubisoft plans to restructure the Barcelona studio to concentrate on Rainbow Six projects. In total, the internal memo obtained by Insider Gaming indicates that up to 380 employees could be affected.
These actions are part of a company-wide restructuring that began in 2024, following the creation of Vantage Studios to oversee the Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry and Rainbow Six franchises and a January "reset" that led to several game cancellations. Ubisoft has previously closed studios in Leamington and Halifax and reduced staff at other development teams.
The announcement comes after Ubisoft's presentation at Summer Game Fest, where it showcased upcoming titles such as Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced and Rayman Legends Retold. The publisher did not respond to requests for comment.