Ubisoft Closes UK Studio, Cuts 185 Jobs Amid Restructuring

LEAMINGTON, England — Ubisoft, the French video game giant, announced the closure of its UK studio in Leamington and the elimination of 185 jobs across multiple offices as part of a broader restructuring effort. The company confirmed that a small number of Leamington staff will be retained under remote contracts, while offices in Düsseldorf, Stockholm, and Newcastle will face downsizing.

“As part of our ongoing efforts to prioritize projects and reduce costs that ensure long-term stability at Ubisoft, we have announced targeted restructurings at Ubisoft Düsseldorf, Ubisoft Stockholm, and Ubisoft Reflections and the permanent closure of Ubisoft Leamington site,” a Ubisoft spokesperson told Eurogamer. “Unfortunately, this should impact 185 employees overall. We are deeply grateful for their contributions and are committed to supporting them through this transition.”

Ubisoft Leamington, originally founded in 2002 as FreeStyleGames by former Rare and Codemasters veterans, was acquired by Ubisoft in 2017. The studio gained recognition for its work on the DJ Hero series under Activision before contributing to major Ubisoft titles such as Star Wars Outlaws, Skull and Bones, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, and Far Cry 5.

The downsized offices also have significant histories. Ubisoft Düsseldorf, formerly Blue Byte, is known for developing the Anno and The Settlers series. Ubisoft Stockholm recently collaborated with Massive Entertainment on projects, while Ubisoft Reflections, founded in 1984 and acquired by Ubisoft in 2006, has been a key player in AAA game development.

These layoffs come amid a challenging period for Ubisoft, marked by disappointing game launches, repeated delays to Assassin's Creed Shadows, and broader concerns about the company’s future. Since 2022, Ubisoft has reduced its workforce from 20,279 to 18,666 employees by September 2024.

Earlier this month, Ubisoft announced it was exploring “transformational strategic and capitalistic options” to maximize value for stakeholders. Reports suggest Chinese tech giant Tencent is considering an investment, though Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot aims to retain overall control.

All eyes are now on the upcoming release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, set for March 20, 2025. The success of this title is seen as critical to Ubisoft’s future stability.