Ubisoft, a software company, has shuttered its studio in Halifax, resulting in 71 employees losing their jobs. The closure is part of the company’s efforts to enhance efficiency and reduce expenses. According to a company statement, Ubisoft has been implementing various measures over the past two years to streamline its operations.
The decision to close down the Halifax studio was influenced by the declining revenue of the video game Assassin’s Creed Rebellion, which the studio was working on and released in 2018. In a recent development, 60 workers at the Halifax studio formed the first union in North America for Ubisoft in late December.
In response to inquiries, Ubisoft spokesperson Antoine Leduc-Labelle mentioned that the restructuring process had commenced even before the unionization efforts began within the studio in June 2025. T.J. Gillis, a senior server developer at Ubisoft Halifax for five years, expressed disappointment over the closure, stating that the closure timing seemed suspicious and that union representatives would be contacted for support.
The employee union, CWA Canada, plans to seek clarification from Ubisoft regarding the sudden closure. Gillis highlighted that with the Halifax studio shutting down, there are now limited employment opportunities for game developers in the province, citing the closure of Microsoft’s Alpha Dog studio in Halifax in 2024.
Gillis expressed sadness over the loss of projects and the camaraderie built over the years, emphasizing the impact of the closure on the team. The union president, Carmel Smyth, emphasized the importance of understanding the reasons behind the closure and ensuring it was not influenced by the employees’ unionization.
Overall, the closure of Ubisoft’s Halifax studio has left many employees in a difficult situation, with uncertainties about their future in the gaming industry in the region.