In December 2025, the developers at Ubisoft Halifax—known for their work on the mobile title Assassin's Creed Rebellion—successfully voted to unionize, aligning with the Game & Media Workers Guild of Canada. However, just weeks later, Ubisoft announced the closure of the Halifax studio, resulting in the layoffs of 70 employees.
As reported by Video Games Chronicle, Ubisoft denied any correlation between the studio's closure and the recent unionization efforts. A spokesperson for Ubisoft emphasized that the decision to shut down the Halifax studio was made prior to the union vote.
“Over the past 24 months, Ubisoft has undertaken company-wide actions to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and reduce costs,” the spokesperson stated. “As part of this, Ubisoft has made the difficult decision to close its Halifax studio ... 71 positions will be affected. We are committed to supporting all impacted team members during this transition with resources, including comprehensive severance packages and additional career assistance.”
Last year, Ubisoft faced criticism for proposing “voluntary career transition,” effectively presenting early layoffs to employees. Notably, Assassin's Creed executive producer Marc-Alexis Côté departed the company after nearly two decades, stating that it wasn't his choice to leave.
In November, Ubisoft revealed a 39% increase in earnings year-over-year for Q2 of its fiscal year, alongside reports that the Assassin's Creed franchise surpassed expectations. Regardless, these positives did not prevent additional job losses at its partner studios.
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