Ubisoft takes drastic measures: 185 layoffs and a studio closure

In 2024, Ubisoft faced one setback after another. Skull and Bones, touted as the first "AAAA" game, was heavily criticized by both players and reviewers. The company’s free-to-play shooter XDefiant was shut down after just six months due to a lack of players and even Star Wars Outlaws fell short of the expected sales figures.

These significant setbacks have now led to serious consequences, primarily affecting Ubisoft's staff. On January 27, the company announced the complete closure of its studio in Leamington (UK). Additionally, several departments will face cutbacks, with a total of 185 employees set to lose their jobs. The impacted studios include:

• Leamington: The studio last worked on Tom Clancy's The Division 2 and will be closed completely. However, some employees are to be given remote contracts.
• Düsseldorf: Reduction of resources. The studio is known for developing games such as Anno and The Settlers.
• Stockholm: Capacity reduction. The studio was most recently involved in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.
• Ubisoft Reflections (Newcastle): Also affected by job cuts. The studio supports AAA projects and was previously known for the Driver series.

Community between criticism and sympathy

A heated debate about Ubisoft's job cuts has erupted on Reddit, with a clear consensus emerging: Most users express solidarity with the affected employees while placing the blame squarely on the company’s management. One comment captures the community's sentiment perfectly:

"Sad for the staff, the majority of whom are lovely people who were doing their job despite the daily frustrations of dealing with indecisive management."

Ubisoft is accused of sticking to outdated business models, offering no innovation and planning projects poorly. The term "woke", which in this context stands for excessive political and moral correctness in games, is also frequently used by critical voices. According to gaming insider Jason Schreier, Ubisoft’s future will likely hinge on the success of Assassin's Creed Shadows, set to release on March 20.