Ubisoft shuts down Halifax studio weeks after employees unionize
What's the story
Ubisoft is shutting down its Halifax studio in Canada, just 16 days after the employees there voted to unionize. The company has claimed that the decision is part of "company-wide actions to streamline operations" and has nothing to do with the recent unionization. The closure will impact 71 positions, but Ubisoft has promised support for affected team members during this transition period.
Union impact
Unionization vote and studio's previous projects
On December 22, Ubisoft Halifax announced that 61 of its employees had voted to join the Game & Media Workers Guild of Canada. The studio's lead programmer Jon Huffman had said at the time that 73.8% of employees were in favor of unionizing. The studio was working on mobile games for Rainbow Six and Assassin's Creed franchises before the abrupt closure decision by Ubisoft.
Official response
Ubisoft's statement on studio closure
Ubisoft's official statement described the studio closure as part of a larger trend of cost-cutting measures. "Over the past 24 months, Ubisoft has undertaken company-wide actions to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and reduce costs," the company said. "As part of this, Ubisoft has made the difficult decision to close its Halifax studio," it added. The company also promised comprehensive severance packages and additional career assistance for those affected by this decision.
Past actions
Company's history of studio closures and layoffs
In October, Ubisoft had announced that Massive Entertainment, the studio behind The Division series, Star Wars Outlaws, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, was offering buyouts to some employees. The company termed this as a "voluntary career transition program." Over the years, Ubisoft has shut down studios and laid off employees in San Francisco, London and Leamington. The company's headcount has decreased by 8% over the past few years.