After having just lately introduced that it will be shedding 185 workers alongside shutting down one in every of its studios, Ubisoft has seemingly referred to the transfer in an inner memo as one made for “discovering extra environment friendly working fashions and to make sure our long-term success.”
In response to Insider Gaming, the inner memo revealed a breakdown of the latest layoffs; round 65 workers from Ubisoft Dusseldorf, 100 from Ubisoft Leamington and Reflections, and round 20 from Ubisoft Stockholm have been let go. Of those studios, Ubisoft Leamington was the one one closed down.
The memo additionally talks concerning the reasoning behind the layoffs, which manufacturing zone 4 managing director Benedikt Grindel ascribes to wanting to enhance the studios’ operational effectivity.
“I perceive the uncertainty these modifications will carry,” stated Grindel. “We’re dedicated to supporting everybody who could also be impacted throughout this transition. Let me guarantee you, these choices weren’t made frivolously. We consider they’re important to enhance our operational effectivity and make sure the long-term sustainability of our studios, the zone and the corporate.”
Manufacturing Zone 3 and Ubisoft Stockholm managing director Thomas Andren had additionally spoken to the group, speaking concerning the issue of the choice.
“We all know that this determination impacts extra than simply the studio and its initiatives; it impacts people-our colleagues, teammates, and buddies. We deeply perceive how troublesome that is, and supporting everybody via this transition is our utmost precedence,” he stated.
“Whereas troublesome, the modifications introduced yesterday are focused at us discovering extra environment friendly working fashions and to make sure our long-term success,” continued Andren’s message to the group. “That is pushed by a robust conviction: our potential to maintain creating and working distinctive, highly effective, and in style manufacturers that reach past video video games.”
Ubisoft Leamington was initially often known as FreeStyleGames, and was liable for titles just like the DJ Hero franchise earlier than being acquired by Ubisoft. After the acquisition, the studio’s title obtained modified, and it turned a assist studio for main Ubisoft releases, together with Far Cry 5 and Star Wars Outlaws.
“As a part of our ongoing efforts to prioritize initiatives and scale back prices that guarantee long-term stability at Ubisoft, we have now introduced focused restructurings at Ubisoft Düsseldorf, Ubisoft Stockholm and Ubisoft Reflections and the everlasting closure of Ubisoft Leamington web site,” stated Ubisoft in a press release concerning the layoffs. “Sadly, this could influence 185 workers total. We’re deeply grateful for his or her contributions and are dedicated to supporting them via this transition.”
This transfer in the direction of extra “effectivity” is perhaps part of the rumoured plans between Ubisoft founders the Guillemot household and Tencent to forge a brand new enterprise that makes use of a few of Ubisoft’s belongings to extend the corporate’s total worth. The corporate has additionally beforehand introduced that it’s hiring advisors to discover how extra worth may very well be extracted from the corporate’s varied belongings.
Ubisoft is presently gearing as much as launch Murderer’s Creed Shadows on March 20. It is going to be coming to PC, PS5 and Xbox Collection X/S, and can launch alongside the Animus Hub, which is able to function the brand new house for the franchise going ahead. For extra particulars concerning the recreation, take a look at the builders speaking about the truth that one of many protagonists is not going to have murderer talents, in addition to a showcase of the sport’s new accessibility options and choices.