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Ubisoft's Winnipeg and Belgrade studios are reportedly being shut down, according to widespread reports
Ubisoft is reportedly continuing the aggressive cuts it has been implementing in phases since the beginning of this year, with the most recent wave resulting in the closure of the publisher's studios in Winnipeg and Belgrade. Simultaneously, Ubisoft Barcelona is being reorganized to concentrate exclusively on Rainbow Six titles. As a consequence of these actions, up to 380 employees are reportedly at risk of losing their positions.
These reductions have been covered by outlets such as IGN, The Game Business, and Game Developer. The latter notes that the layoffs are currently pending consultation, which explains the absence of a definitive count of workers who will be dismissed.
Ubisoft Winnipeg, established in 2018, primarily focused on Ubisoft's Anvil and Snowdrop game engines. In contrast, the Belgrade studio was founded in 2016 and contributed to titles like Ghost Recon Wildlands, The Crew 2, and Skull & Bones over the years. Ubisoft Barcelona, now slated to handle only Rainbow Six projects, previously worked on Assassin's Creed and The Division games.
They join the ranks of longtime Tom Clancy studio Red Storm Entertainment, which experienced around 100 staff layoffs as it ceased operations as a game development studio back in March, as segments of Ubisoft are severely impacted by the publisher's drive to reduce expenses. All of this follows the decision by Ubisoft management to restructure the company into a series of creative hubs overseeing specific game franchises, with the formation of one such hub for Assassin's Creed, Rainbow Six, and Far Cry having seen Tencent provide Ubisoft with a significant amount of funding.
Solidarity and best wishes to any Ubisoft employees affected by these closures and layoffs.