Ubisoft Toronto, a key studio within the global Ubisoft network, has announced the layoff of 33 employees in what the company describes as a “targeted realignment.” This move comes as part of a larger trend of job cuts sweeping through the video game industry since the beginning of 2023.
In a statement to the press, a Ubisoft representative explained, “Ubisoft Toronto has decided to conduct a targeted realignment to ensure it can deliver on its ambitious roadmap. Unfortunately, this will impact the roles of 33 team members who will be leaving Ubisoft.”
The company has pledged to provide comprehensive support to affected employees, including severance packages and career assistance to aid in their transition.
This announcement comes at a particularly sensitive time for Ubisoft Toronto, which recently joined forces with Ubisoft Montreal to work on the highly anticipated “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” remake. The studio is also responsible for the development of a remake of “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell,” announced in 2021.
Despite these ongoing high-profile projects, Ubisoft maintains that the layoffs will not impact their development schedules. “Our plan remains unchanged, and our teams are working to deliver on the Splinter Cell remake and other projects at the studio,” the company stated.
The gaming industry has been hit hard by layoffs in recent years. By the end of May 2024, over 10,000 people had lost their jobs in the sector. This number has since climbed to 10,800, surpassing the total of 10,500 layoffs recorded for the entire year of 2023 in less than half the time.
Industry analysts speaking to GamesIndustry.biz suggest that the wave of layoffs may be slowing down, with most major companies having already made significant cuts. Some even predict that companies may need to start hiring again within a few years.
However, the immediate impact of these job losses on the industry and its workforce remains significant. As Ubisoft Toronto and other studios navigate these challenging times, the gaming community watches closely to see how these changes will affect the development and release of highly anticipated titles.
While Ubisoft assures that projects like the “Prince of Persia” remake (targeting a 2026 release) and the “Splinter Cell” remake remain on track, the long-term effects of these industry-wide layoffs on game development timelines and quality remain to be seen.
