What is the story about?
The wave of layoffs sweeping the gaming industry shows no signs of slowing down, and this time, it’s hitting one of the biggest names in the business. According to a report from IGN, Ubisoft is planning to slash a significant portion of its workforce at its Paris headquarters, proposing cuts that could impact up to 200 employees, or roughly 20 per cent of its staff.
This move follows a turbulent few months for the Assassin’s Creed publisher, which recently shut down multiple studios and cancelled several in-development projects as part of a larger cost-cutting strategy.
The proposed layoffs are being organised under France’s Rupture Conventionnelle Collective (RCC), a unique framework that allows for voluntary mutual termination agreements between employers and staff. Essentially, Ubisoft is offering employees the option to collectively agree to leave, rather than being laid off outright.
In a statement to IGN, a company spokesperson clarified that the proposal is still in its early stages, “At this stage, this remains a proposal and no decision will be final until a collective agreement is reached.”
While the RCC process is technically voluntary, the circumstances around it raise questions. Ubisoft hasn’t said what will happen if it fails to secure 200 willing participants.
Adding another layer to the situation, the company recently mandated employees to return to the office five days a week, a move that could conveniently nudge reluctant staff toward taking the exit package.
Industry analysts suggest this could be part of Ubisoft’s strategy to trim costs quietly while avoiding a full-scale layoff battle, but for employees, it’s another sign of instability at a company once known for its vibrant creative culture.
This latest development comes on the heels of a series of studio shutdowns and restructuring efforts across Ubisoft’s global network. Just 16 days after employees at its Halifax studio unionised, the company abruptly closed the office. Last week, it also shuttered its Stockholm studio and confirmed the cancellation of several unannounced projects, citing a need to refocus resources on its strongest IPs.
Ubisoft has been struggling for months to stabilise its operations amid rising production costs, delayed releases, and growing competition from rival publishers. Despite some positive momentum around upcoming titles like Star Wars Outlaws and Assassin’s Creed Codename Red, the company’s financial performance has remained under pressure.
The global gaming industry has also been navigating a harsh year, with layoffs affecting thousands of developers at major studios including Epic Games, Microsoft, and Riot. Ubisoft’s latest cuts signal that even long-established publishers aren’t immune to the shifting economics of modern game development.
For now, the proposed RCC agreement in Paris is still pending approval, and no final decisions have been made. But the pattern is clear, Ubisoft’s leadership is tightening its belt, consolidating operations, and betting on fewer, larger projects to keep the company afloat.
Whether this strategy will help the French publisher reclaim its creative edge or further alienate its workforce remains to be seen. For many long-time Ubisoft employees, this feels less like a “reset” and more like the end of an era.
This move follows a turbulent few months for the Assassin’s Creed publisher, which recently shut down multiple studios and cancelled several in-development projects as part of a larger cost-cutting strategy.
Ubisoft layoffs: Voluntary exits
The proposed layoffs are being organised under France’s Rupture Conventionnelle Collective (RCC), a unique framework that allows for voluntary mutual termination agreements between employers and staff. Essentially, Ubisoft is offering employees the option to collectively agree to leave, rather than being laid off outright.
In a statement to IGN, a company spokesperson clarified that the proposal is still in its early stages, “At this stage, this remains a proposal and no decision will be final until a collective agreement is reached.”
While the RCC process is technically voluntary, the circumstances around it raise questions. Ubisoft hasn’t said what will happen if it fails to secure 200 willing participants.
Adding another layer to the situation, the company recently mandated employees to return to the office five days a week, a move that could conveniently nudge reluctant staff toward taking the exit package.
Industry analysts suggest this could be part of Ubisoft’s strategy to trim costs quietly while avoiding a full-scale layoff battle, but for employees, it’s another sign of instability at a company once known for its vibrant creative culture.
Ubisoft's studio closures and game cancellations
This latest development comes on the heels of a series of studio shutdowns and restructuring efforts across Ubisoft’s global network. Just 16 days after employees at its Halifax studio unionised, the company abruptly closed the office. Last week, it also shuttered its Stockholm studio and confirmed the cancellation of several unannounced projects, citing a need to refocus resources on its strongest IPs.
Ubisoft has been struggling for months to stabilise its operations amid rising production costs, delayed releases, and growing competition from rival publishers. Despite some positive momentum around upcoming titles like Star Wars Outlaws and Assassin’s Creed Codename Red, the company’s financial performance has remained under pressure.
The global gaming industry has also been navigating a harsh year, with layoffs affecting thousands of developers at major studios including Epic Games, Microsoft, and Riot. Ubisoft’s latest cuts signal that even long-established publishers aren’t immune to the shifting economics of modern game development.
For now, the proposed RCC agreement in Paris is still pending approval, and no final decisions have been made. But the pattern is clear, Ubisoft’s leadership is tightening its belt, consolidating operations, and betting on fewer, larger projects to keep the company afloat.
Whether this strategy will help the French publisher reclaim its creative edge or further alienate its workforce remains to be seen. For many long-time Ubisoft employees, this feels less like a “reset” and more like the end of an era.
