Ubisoft Shuts Studios, Expands Layoffs Amid Ongoing Restructuring

French video game giant Ubisoft has reportedly launched another major round of restructuring and workforce reductions across its global development network, following several waves of layoffs earlier this year.

According to reports by gaming industry outlets, the company is closing its studios in Winnipeg, Canada, and Belgrade, Serbia, while also implementing significant staff reductions at its offices in Barcelona, Spain, and San Francisco, United States.

The latest restructuring could affect approximately 380 employees, with the entire 65-member Winnipeg studio team reportedly facing job losses following the closure of the facility.

Meanwhile, Ubisoft's San Francisco office, which had ceased game development operations in 2024, is now reportedly reducing staff within its remaining IT and marketing divisions.

Barcelona Studio Takes Lead on Rainbow Six Siege

As part of broader cost-cutting efforts, Ubisoft is also reorganizing development responsibilities for its flagship multiplayer title Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege.

Industry reports indicate that approximately 12 percent of the game's core development team is being reassigned to other projects within the company.

Under the new structure, Ubisoft Barcelona will assume primary responsibility for the continued development and operation of Rainbow Six Siege, becoming the game's lead development studio.

The move is reportedly intended to streamline operations while maintaining support for one of Ubisoft's most successful live-service franchises.

Financial Pressures Behind the Cuts

The latest layoffs come amid several years of financial challenges for Ubisoft, including weaker game sales, project delays, and profitability concerns.

To reduce operating expenses, the company has undertaken multiple rounds of workforce reductions, office closures, and voluntary departure programs across various regions.

Industry analysts note that Ubisoft has been seeking to lower fixed costs such as salaries, office space expenses, and administrative overhead while focusing resources on its most commercially important franchises.

Tencent-Backed Strategic Shift

As part of its broader restructuring strategy, Ubisoft introduced a major organizational change in October 2025 by establishing a new subsidiary known as Vantage Studios, backed by investment from Chinese technology company Tencent.

The new entity is expected to become the primary home for future installments of several of Ubisoft's most valuable franchises, including:

• Assassin's Creed
• Far Cry
• Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six

The strategy reflects Ubisoft's effort to concentrate resources around proven intellectual properties while improving operational efficiency.

Industry-Wide Challenges

Gaming industry observers suggest that the restructuring reflects broader pressures affecting major publishers worldwide.

As growth in esports and live-service gaming slows and development costs continue to rise, many large publishers are reevaluating their portfolios and reducing investment in high-risk, big-budget projects.

Analysts believe companies are increasingly shifting toward smaller, lower-risk productions and focusing resources on established franchises with strong player communities and recurring revenue streams.

Ubisoft has not yet issued a detailed public statement regarding the reported studio closures or the final number of employees expected to be affected.

//DBTech/BMT/OR//