Ubisoft Shuts Down the Recently-Unionized Halifax Studio

French video game company Ubisoft Entertainment SA has permanently shut down Ubisoft Halifax, just weeks after employees at the studio voted to unionize. The closure was confirmed on Jan 7, 2026, with VGC reporting that it has obtained an email sent to Halifax studio staff to inform them about their decision.

According to reports, the closure will result in 71 job cuts, and it is raising questions among regulators and industry professionals. The company said the decision is part of a broader strategic restructuring and is not connected to the recent unionization of the Halifax workforce. Ubisoft cited rising development costs, project realignments, and the need to streamline its global studio footprint as key reasons behind the shutdown.

Ubisoft will support affected employees with “resources, including comprehensive severance packages and additional career assistance.” A spokesperson informed Gamesindustry.biz that the decision is an escalation of the cost-cutting initiatives taken by Ubisoft in the post-pandemic situation. The person also stressed that the company supports and works with unionized staff in multiple global markets. 

Founded in 2010, Ubisoft Halifax primarily worked as a support studio and is known for Rainbow Six and Assassin’s Creed Rebellion. VGC noted that Rebellion (2018), the free-to-play strategy RPG, has also observed declining sales revenue, prompting the ending of its live operations, which could be another reason for Hailfax's closure. The Assassin’s Creed franchise is now under Vantage Studio, an Ubisoft subsidiary co-owned by Tencent, that aims to retain creative control over the IP.

Recent Unionization Raises Questions Over Halifax Shutdown Timing

The Ubisoft Halifax closure has drawn scrutiny because it follows closely after Halifax employees unionized and joined CWA Canada, creating the first unionized Ubisoft studios in North America. CWA Canada president Carmel Smyth said the shutdown sends a troubling signal to workers across the games industry, describing it as a union-busting move.

She noted that the union has vowed to “pursue every legal recourse” to protect the affected employees. She stated that CWA Canada will also try to find out whether the incident had anything “to do with the employees joining a union,” despite reassurances otherwise.

Jon Huffman, who has been involved in organizing efforts within the Ubisoft Halifax, said that all employees “fully intend to support each other through this difficult time.” 

The case underscores the precarious situation of game developers amidst restructuring and consolidation. The closure of Ubisoft Halifax comes amid a wave of layoffs and studio shutdowns across the global games industry, including layoffs in prominent companies like NetEase Games, Sony, Amazon, and Square Enix.