2026 is off to a flying start for Ubisoft, which announces the closure of one of its studios and finds itself under the yoke of an investigation by a union.
Working in the video game industry is certainly something that many people dream of. But the least we can say is that this is far from obvious. Particularly in recent years, where places have tended to become more and more expensive while mass layoffs have increased. In fact, after a year 2025 which cost nearly ten thousand employees their jobs, we naturally hoped to see 2026 start under better auspices. But that was without counting on Ubisoft, which has already decided to play the bad student.
Ubisoft announces the closure of one of its studios
Indeed, in a new report published yesterday at the end of the day, GamesIndustry.biz revealed that the French publisher had decided to put an end to the activities of Ubisoft Halifax, a Canadian studio working in particular on mobile games Rainbow Six et Assassin’s Creed. No fewer than 71 people will lose their jobs at the start of 2026, with Ubisoft justifying this decision through a process of rationalization and cost reduction:
“Over the past 24 months, Ubisoft has taken company-wide actions to streamline operations, improve efficiency and reduce costs. In this context, Ubisoft has made the difficult decision to close its Halifax studio. 71 positions will be affected. We are committed to supporting all team members impacted by this transition with resources, including full severance packages and additional job search assistance.”.
Ubisoft on January 7, 2026, in a press release announcing the closure of the Ubisoft Halifax studio
Still according to the media, the closure of Ubisoft Halifax would be yet another consequence of the restructuring launched by the company shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic. A restructuring which, to date, has already caused numerous layoffs in studios, including RedLynx (Trials) et Massive Entertainment (The Division) last year. Even if, in this case, this closure has an even more bitter taste from the outside.
Unionization of employees suspected of being the cause
Because unfortunately for Ubisoft, this announcement comes just a few days after the unionization of Halifax, which proudly announced on January 5 that it had formed the publisher’s first union in North America. A process which began in June 2025, and which had therefore just been concluded after months of negotiations. Obviously, such timing raises questions. Especially when we know what has been happening at Rockstar North for several weeks, they themselves being accused of having fired employees because of their union activities.
It is therefore no surprise that the CWA Canada, one of the most important unions in the country, decided to take up the matter. “In Canada, it is illegal for a business to close because its employees decide to unionize” recalls the group to Insider Gaming. “While we are not asserting that this is what happened here, we will seek information from Ubisoft regarding the reasons for this sudden decision to close”.
“We will use all possible legal remedies to ensure that the rights of these workers are respected and are not violated in any way” adds Carmel Smyth, president of the CWA, for her part. “We expect Ubisoft to prove to us that this has nothing to do with employees joining a union. Workers, their families, the people of Nova Scotia, and all of us who love Canadian-made video games deserve nothing less than this.”. Ubisoft has not yet officially reacted on this subject. To be continued, therefore.
Sources : GamesIndustry.biz, Insider Gaming
