Ubisoft, a renowned software company, has made the decision to shut down its studio in Halifax, leading to the displacement of 71 employees. This move comes as part of the company’s broader strategy to enhance efficiency and reduce operational costs. The closure announcement was made citing the need to streamline operations and optimize financial performance.
According to a communication from Ubisoft representative Antoine Leduc-Labelle, the studio’s project, Assassin’s Creed Rebellion, has experienced a decline in revenue since its launch in 2018. The decision to close the Halifax studio follows the formation of the company’s first union in North America by 60 workers at the end of December.
Responding to inquiries from CBC News, Leduc-Labelle clarified that the restructuring initiative was set in motion long before the unionization efforts commenced in June 2025. T.J. Gillis, a senior server developer at Ubisoft Halifax for five years, expressed dismay at the sudden closure, emphasizing the lack of employment opportunities for game developers in the region following this shutdown and Microsoft’s closure of its Alpha Dog studio in 2024.
Gillis, who also highlighted the significance of the unionization efforts in light of industry trends, called the timing of the closure “suspicious” and indicated plans to engage with union representatives for support. Meanwhile, CWA Canada, the union representing the workers, intends to seek clarification from Ubisoft regarding the rationale behind the abrupt closure.
President Carmel Smyth stressed the importance of ensuring that the closure was not influenced by the formation of the union. With the closure of Ubisoft’s Halifax studio, Gillis lamented the loss of years of collaborative work and expressed the impact on the gaming community in the region.
The shutdown of Ubisoft’s Halifax studio marks a significant development in the local gaming industry, with implications for both employees and the broader gaming community in the province.