Ubisoft has laid off 124 people right this moment in an effort “to streamline our operations and improve our collective effectivity,” in accordance with the corporate.
In a launch this morning, Ubisoft confirmed that it was reorganizing its Canadian studios in a transfer that was impacting a complete of 124 positions whole, 98 of which had been based mostly in Canada – roughly 2% of its Canadian workforce. Per Ubisoft, these laid off got here from the enterprise administrative providers and IT groups, each throughout the Hybride VFX studio in Montreal and the worldwide IT workforce.
“These are usually not choices taken calmly and we’re offering complete assist for our colleagues who will likely be leaving Ubisoft throughout this transition,” the corporate stated. “We additionally wish to share our utmost gratitude and respect for his or her many contributions to the corporate. This restructuring doesn’t have an effect on our manufacturing groups.”
Ubisoft has already undergone a number of rounds of layoffs this 12 months, together with the closure of cellular studio Ubisoft London and a wave of customer support layoffs again in Could. It is also canceled a number of initiatives this 12 months and final, and considerably delayed others such because the repeatedly-pushed Cranium and Bones.
And just some months in the past, we reported on a wave of worker anger at Ubisoft Montreal after the corporate introduced a compulsory return-to-office for many staff. Workers reported having been reassured repeatedly they may stay distant indefinitely, and a few stated they’d made main life choices reminiscent of home purchases outdoors town in consequence. Many speculated that this resolution was successfully a delicate layoffs within the type of an unpopular coverage that will push staff to stop and cut back headcount with out Ubisoft having to pay severance.
Ubisoft’s most up-to-date earnings report included quarterly web bookings of €554.8 million ($584.1 million), up 36.6% year-over-year, with a document launch reported for The Crew: Motorfest.
Additionally notably, the corporate introduced in Could that it was partnering with NFT agency Integral Actuality Labs to create 3D-printed Murderer’s Creed NFTs. On the time, no launch date for the collectibles was given, however the line was immediately introduced right this moment through a press launch that arrived virtually simultaneous with the layoff information. The collectibles include tiny cubes with customizable collectible figurines of Murderer’s Creed characters inside, that are embedded with an NFC chip that may supposedly connect with an unreleased companion app sooner or later. Every dice prices $100. NFTs have been notably unpopular with the gaming viewers, and have since been tanking in worth – although some gaming corporations are persevering with on anyway.
In the present day’s layoffs at Ubisoft proceed an ongoing wave of mass business layoffs which have impacted hundreds of jobs within the final 12 months and alter. Latest corporations which have initiated such reductions embody Bungie, Epic Video games, Telltale Video games, Team17, CD Projekt, and numberous Embracer Group properties, together with the shutdown of Saints Row reboot developer Volition.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Received a narrative tip? Ship it to rvalentine@ign.com.