A new one has been added to the recent layoffs in the game industry. Ubisoft laid off 33 developers working in its Toronto studio. These layoffs, which were made in order to realize Ubisoft’s ambitious roadmap, once again reveal the uncertainties and difficulties in the industry.
Ubisoft laid off 33 employees in Toronto
Ubisoft has announced that the layoffs at its Toronto studio are part of a targeted reorganization. The company explained that these changes were mandatory and were made to achieve the goals on the roadmap. Unfortunately, this reorganization led to 33 employees losing their jobs.
In Ubisoft’s press release, “Ubisoft Toronto has decided to undertake a targeted reorganization to realize its ambitious roadmap. This will require 33 team members to leave Ubisoft. We are committed to providing comprehensive support during this transition, including severance and career benefits.”
No details were provided on the departments affected by the layoffs or the impact on the projects Ubisoft Toronto is working on. However, it is known that Ubisoft has engaged Ubisoft Toronto to provide support for Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake. The company said that its plans have not changed and that its teams continue to work on the Splinter Cell remake and other projects.
Layoffs in the game industry are on the rise
These layoffs are the latest in a long wave of layoffs and studio closures in the gaming industry. By the end of May 2024, more than 10,000 people lost their jobs in the gaming industry. This number surpassed last year’s total layoffs before the year was even half over. Now that number has risen to 10,800.
Speaking to Eurogamer, Chris Dring of GamesIndustry.biz said, “Layoffs will slow down. Most of the big companies have made their moves and hopefully they won’t have to go any further. According to some analysts, companies may need to hire again in a few years. However, the pain is not over yet.”
The budget from the layoffs will be used, as we said, to better develop the company’s projects. The most prominent one at the moment is Prince of Persia: The Sans of Time Remake, which is being developed by Ubisoft’s Toronto office. Ubisoft seems to have learned from the PoP: SoT Remake trailer it showed in 2021. What do you think? Please don’t forget to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
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