Ubisoft has confirmed the closure of its Halifax studio, resulting in 71 employees losing their jobs. The studio, which has contributed to titles like *Rocksmith* and mobile entries in the *Assassin’s Creed* and *Rainbow Six* franchises, is being shuttered as part of the publisher’s ongoing efforts to streamline operations and reduce overall costs.
The controversial timing of the announcement has garnered significant attention, as the closure was revealed just two days after the Ubisoft Halifax staff officially unionized. Sixty-one employees had joined the Game & Media Workers Guild of Canada, establishing the first-ever labor union within a Ubisoft North American studio.
Despite the proximity to the union recognition, Ubisoft insists the two events are unrelated. In a public statement, the company claimed the decision to close the office was finalized “well before” the union was formalized. Ubisoft stressed that while it “fully respects” employees’ right to organize, the closure is purely an administrative step to improve efficiency. The publisher has pledged to support the impacted employees with severance packages and career assistance. This action at the Nova Scotia-based studio, which Ubisoft acquired in 2015, marks the latest development in a challenging period of corporate restructuring that has seen job reductions across multiple divisions, including Massive Entertainment and RedLynx.