Ubisoft, a leading software company, has announced the closure of its studio in Halifax, resulting in 71 employees losing their jobs. This decision is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to enhance efficiency and reduce expenses globally. The closure comes after a series of company-wide initiatives aimed at streamlining operations and cutting costs over the past two years.
The studio was working on the video game Assassin’s Creed Rebellion, which experienced a decline in revenue since its launch in 2018, according to Ubisoft spokesperson Antoine Leduc-Labelle. In late December, 60 workers at the Halifax studio formed the first union in North America for the company.
Responding to inquiries, Leduc-Labelle clarified that the restructuring process had commenced prior to the unionization efforts that began in June 2025. T.J. Gillis, a senior server developer at Ubisoft Halifax for five years, expressed disappointment as staff were informed of the closure during a meeting. Gillis highlighted the industry trend of studios closing down, citing this as a reason for the unionization drive.
The union, CWA Canada, intends to seek explanations from Ubisoft regarding the sudden closure. President Carmel Smyth emphasized the importance of understanding whether the closure was related to the employees’ decision to unionize. With the closure of Ubisoft’s Halifax studio, game developers in the province are left with limited job opportunities, following the closure of Microsoft’s Alpha Dog studio in 2024.
Gillis lamented the loss of projects and camaraderie built over the years, stating, “It’s hard to see that work just disappear from us.” The union plans to engage with Ubisoft to seek clarity on the reasons behind the closure and its impact on the employees.
