In recent news, Ubisoft shuts down the Leamington studio, laying off 185 staff members. Ubisoft Leamington is a United Kingdom-based studio under the French-based publishers. However, a small number of the Leamington staff will continue their jobs under ‘remote contracts’, as stated by Eurogamer’s report on the matter.
Aside from Leamington, Ubisoft’s sections in Düsseldorf (formerly known as Blue Byte), Stockholm, and more will also see downsizing. Ubisoft has released a statement to Eurogamer, mentioning that the current downsizing is due to their efforts to prioritize projects, reduce costs, and ensure long-term stability for the company.
Ubisoft Shuts Down Leamington Studio And Lays Off Employees
This is not the first time Ubisoft has seen a mass layoff. Last month, the French-based company laid off nearly 300 employees and closed San Franciso and Osaka game studios. Moreover, this decision was made due to XDefiant’s shutdown.
A Ubisoft spokesperson has told Eurogamer that the company has announced targeted restructuring at Ubisoft Düsseldorf, Ubisoft Stockholm, and Ubisoft Reflections, and a permanent closure of the Leamington team.
As a result, the closure had an impact on 185 employees. The company expressed gratitude for their contribution, and the spokesperson stated that Ubisoft is committed to supporting them through their transition.
The Ubisoft Leamington team has a strong history in the video game market, since its early days. The team was founded in 2002 and was known as FreeStyleGames at the time. It was made by a group of Codemasters and Rare veterans.
Since then, the team has lent their support to various Ubisoft projects, including their modern-day support on titles like Tom Clancy’s The Division series. The team was also active in assisting on IPs like Star Wars Outlaws, Skull and Bones, and Far Cry 5.
Last year was a hectic run for Ubisoft, with Assassin’s Creed Shadows receiving multiple delays, and various project shutdowns across their departments. However, Ubisoft is currently focusing on restructuring its foundation and has promised top-tier content for the future.
The company is focused on polishing their existing titles such as Skull and Bones, and showering more attention to their upcoming projects such as Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Prince of Persia Sands of Time Remake.
As a result, the company is consolidating its resources by shutting down projects based on priorities. One of these projects also included The Division Heartland, which was set to release in 2025, but was canceled last year.
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