Tag: Massive Entertainment

Ubisoft employees, fed up with the situation, are threatening the company: they are on the verge of a strike

Ubisoft has started 2026 in a turbulent manner, marking a new chapter of challenges and restructuring within the company. The publisher has announced the cancellation of six games, including the highly anticipated remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, and has delayed the release of another seven titles. Additionally, the closure of its studios in Halifax and Stockholm has been confirmed, adding to the 55 previous layoffs at Massive Entertainment, which represents a severe blow to its workforce. A reorganization with potentially catastrophic results As part of this strategic reset process, Ubisoft has decided to order to […]

Ubisoft has started 2026 in a turbulent manner, marking a new chapter of challenges and restructuring within the company. The publisher has announced the cancellation of six games, including the highly anticipated remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, and has delayed the release of another seven titles. Additionally, the closure of its studios in Halifax and Stockholm has been confirmed, adding to the 55 previous layoffs at Massive Entertainment, which represents a severe blow to its workforce.

A reorganization with potentially catastrophic results

As part of this strategic reset process, Ubisoft has decided to order its employees to return to the office full-time. This change has caused discomfort among workers, who perceive the measure as a setback regarding the work flexibilities implemented during the pandemic. The Solidaires Informatique union has described the plan as “disastrous,” calling for strikes and demanding not only the expansion of remote work but also salary adjustments that reflect adequate living conditions.

Ubisoft justifies the return to an in-person model under the argument of improving collaboration and fostering a more dynamic work environment, in order to maintain its competitiveness in the AAA market. However, this policy is not well received. Employees have expressed their disagreement and have threatened with mobilizations, including a half-day strike that could include other future actions.

The CEO of Ubisoft has acknowledged that the company will face potential strikes and will seek negotiations with unions to define the conditions for returning to in-person work. The combination of studio closures and restructuring amid a tense work environment presents an uncertain outlook for the future of Ubisoft, one of the major publishers in the video game industry.

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Ubisoft closes one of its regional hubs after a catastrophic 2025

The video game industry is at a critical moment, especially in the Triple A project sector, where many companies are making significant adjustments. In this context, Ubisoft has faced a difficult week, marked by staff reductions in several of its studios, including Massive Entertainment and Ubisoft Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi is the most affected; Ubisoft Abu Dhabi, which was founded in 2011 as a “regional hub” for the development and adaptation of video games, had more than 60 employees. However, staff cuts began in December 2025 and […]

The video game industry is at a critical moment, especially in the Triple A project sector, where many companies are making significant adjustments. In this context, Ubisoft has faced a difficult week, marked by staff reductions in several of its studios, including Massive Entertainment and Ubisoft Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi is the big loser

Ubisoft Abu Dhabi, which was founded in 2011 as a “regional hub” for the development and adaptation of video games, had more than 60 employees. However, staff cuts began in December 2025 and intensified in January 2026, although the company has not yet issued an official statement regarding this. Several former employees have confirmed the layoffs through posts on LinkedIn.

This round of cuts adds to the recent news of the closure of the studio in Halifax, Canada, and adjustments at other locations such as Massive Entertainment and Ubisoft Stockholm. These decisions are part of a broader restructuring strategy within the French company, a measure that has raised concerns in the gaming community and within the industry. However, Ubisoft continues to maintain good relations with Saudi Arabia, which has made investments in the company through the Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Despite these tumultuous times, there is a ray of hope. The recent release of Star Wars: Outlaws on Game Pass could provide Ubisoft with a way to improve its situation. This suitable availability of the game on the popular subscription platform could not only facilitate user retention, but also provide a great opportunity to showcase one of the most appealing open worlds the company has created, marking a milestone in the Star Wars franchise.

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Two Ubisoft studios will face another wave of layoffs

Ubisoft has confirmed a new wave of layoffs in 2026, affecting 55 employees from Massive Entertainment and Ubisoft Stockholm, as part of a broader strategy to reduce costs. This announcement follows a voluntary layoff program implemented in 2025, which allowed workers to choose to leave the company with compensation. Ubisoft emphasizes that the layoffs are not related to the individual performance of employees, but are part of a structural process aimed at adjusting the organization to respond to the future needs of its studios. These proposed changes […]

Ubisoft has confirmed a new wave of layoffs in 2026, affecting 55 employees from Massive Entertainment and Ubisoft Stockholm, as part of a broader strategy to reduce costs. This announcement follows a voluntary layoff program implemented in 2025, which allowed workers to choose to leave the company with compensation.

Nothing to do with the employees

Ubisoft emphasizes that the layoffs are not related to the individual performance of employees, but rather are part of a structural process aimed at adjusting the organization to meet the future needs of its studios. These proposed changes are prospective and structural, the company stated, reiterating that they will not affect the development of major projects such as The Division and the Snowdrop engine, which is also used in titles like Star Wars: Outlaws.

Interestingly, the layoffs at Massive Entertainment come as the The Division franchise is preparing to celebrate its tenth anniversary. This saga has been one of Ubisoft’s most successful and is currently in full development of a third title, which the developers have described as a gaming monster. However, the context of layoffs and restructuring also raises concerns, as Ubisoft recently closed its Halifax studio, just after many of its employees unionized. Some former employees have begun to fight to prove that the layoff decisions are linked to this affiliation, which could trigger potential legal actions against the company.

Ubisoft is facing a critical moment in its trajectory, as the strategic moves made now could have significant repercussions on its future operation. Meanwhile, the French conglomerate continues to seek sustainability in an increasingly competitive development environment.