Ubisoft, a software company, has made the decision to shut down its studio in Halifax, resulting in 71 employees losing their jobs. The closure is part of the company’s efforts to enhance efficiency and reduce expenses, following a series of actions taken over the past two years to streamline operations. Assassin’s Creed Rebellion, the game being developed at the Halifax studio, has experienced a decline in revenue since its launch in 2018, as mentioned by Ubisoft spokesperson Antoine Leduc-Labelle.
In a significant move, 60 workers at the Halifax studio formed the first union in North America for Ubisoft late last year. Leduc-Labelle clarified that the restructuring process began long before the unionization efforts started in June 2025.
One of the affected employees, T.J. Gillis, a senior server developer at Ubisoft Halifax for five years, expressed disappointment as the news of the closure was delivered during a meeting. Gillis mentioned that the decision to unionize was influenced by the industry trend of studios closing down. With the closure of the Halifax studio, job opportunities for game developers in the region have become scarce, following the closure of Microsoft’s Alpha Dog studio in 2024.
The union representing the workers, CWA Canada, intends to seek explanations from Ubisoft regarding the sudden shutdown. President Carmel Smyth emphasized the importance of understanding the reasons behind the closure and ensuring that it was not influenced by the unionization efforts.
Gillis lamented the loss of projects and camaraderie built over the years, stating that it was disheartening to see their work vanish. The closure of Ubisoft’s Halifax studio marks a significant setback for game development in the province.
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