Ubisoft Proposes Massive Layoffs Amidst Ongoing Restructuring Efforts
Amidst a wave of studio closures and game cancellations last week, Ubisoft has proposed an even more drastic measure: massive layoffs. According to reports by IGN, the company is planning a significant reduction in its workforce at its Paris headquarters, with estimates suggesting up to 200 job losses - roughly 20% of the current staff.
The proposed layoffs will be organized under France's Rupture Conventionnelle Collective (RCC) process, which allows staff to agree to form a collective, voluntary mutual termination agreement. However, it's still unclear whether Ubisoft has secured enough willing participants, with a company spokesperson stating that "at this stage, this remains a proposal and no decision will be final until a collective agreement is reached."
The RCC process is voluntary, which may prove beneficial for Ubisoft Paris employees, but raises concerns about what the company would do if it doesn't meet its target number of volunteers. This comes as Ubisoft has recently introduced a mandate requiring employees to return to the office for five days each week, potentially enticing some staff members who are looking to exit.
This is not the first time Ubisoft has taken drastic cost-cutting measures in recent months. The company shut down its Halifax studio just 16 days after employees entered into a unionization agreement, and last week, it shuttered its Stockholm studio and announced various restructuring efforts at several other developers under its umbrella.
The news also comes amidst reports of game cancellations, including the long-awaited Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake. While Ubisoft did announce that seven additional games were being delayed, some titles have seemingly fallen by the wayside without explanation.
Ubisoft's financial woes have been well-documented in recent years, with its stock price plummeting from $20 per share in 2021 to around $1 per share today. The company's struggles underscore the challenges faced by many in the gaming industry, and the potential impact on employees, developers, and fans alike is a worrying one.
Amidst a wave of studio closures and game cancellations last week, Ubisoft has proposed an even more drastic measure: massive layoffs. According to reports by IGN, the company is planning a significant reduction in its workforce at its Paris headquarters, with estimates suggesting up to 200 job losses - roughly 20% of the current staff.
The proposed layoffs will be organized under France's Rupture Conventionnelle Collective (RCC) process, which allows staff to agree to form a collective, voluntary mutual termination agreement. However, it's still unclear whether Ubisoft has secured enough willing participants, with a company spokesperson stating that "at this stage, this remains a proposal and no decision will be final until a collective agreement is reached."
The RCC process is voluntary, which may prove beneficial for Ubisoft Paris employees, but raises concerns about what the company would do if it doesn't meet its target number of volunteers. This comes as Ubisoft has recently introduced a mandate requiring employees to return to the office for five days each week, potentially enticing some staff members who are looking to exit.
This is not the first time Ubisoft has taken drastic cost-cutting measures in recent months. The company shut down its Halifax studio just 16 days after employees entered into a unionization agreement, and last week, it shuttered its Stockholm studio and announced various restructuring efforts at several other developers under its umbrella.
The news also comes amidst reports of game cancellations, including the long-awaited Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake. While Ubisoft did announce that seven additional games were being delayed, some titles have seemingly fallen by the wayside without explanation.
Ubisoft's financial woes have been well-documented in recent years, with its stock price plummeting from $20 per share in 2021 to around $1 per share today. The company's struggles underscore the challenges faced by many in the gaming industry, and the potential impact on employees, developers, and fans alike is a worrying one.
they're not just cutting jobs but entire studios its like a domino effect who's next? i feel bad for all the devs and staff affected by these massive layoffs 
its not just about the company's financial struggles, its about the games we love and the people who make them 
it's crazy how quickly the gaming industry can shift.Ubisoft's layoffs feel like just another sign of the times - everyone's trying to cut costs and stay ahead. What's sad though, is that this stuff affects real people. Those 200+ jobs aren't just numbers on a spreadsheet 
thats like a big chunk of their paris team 
i hope the RCC process can help make the transition smoother 
but what if they don't meet their target number of volunteers 
that could be really tough for those employees 
they need to get their act together ASAP i mean i feel bad for all the people who might be losing their jobs but come on 200 job losses? thats just too much 
. Now it seems like they're being forced to cut costs due to financial struggles 
. And can we talk about how messed up the RCC process is? Like, what if no one wants to leave voluntarily? That's just gonna be super unfair to those who are stuck 
. And don't even get me started on the whole "return to office" mandate... like, I'm all for meeting with coworkers and whatnot, but not at the expense of people's sanity or financial stability 
. Ubisoft needs to find a better way to balance profits with people power 
i remember when i was playing Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake like how are we gonna see that now lol Ubisoft needs to sort out their finances and figure out what they want to do with their studios, can't just keep shutting them down 
I guess only time will tell how this all plays out.
I'm literally shaking thinking about all those devs who might lose their jobs 
what about all the fans who were hyped for that?! Ubisoft needs to get their act together ASAP 
still dont understand why game cancelations keep happening too prince of persia was supposed to come out ages ago what did we even do wrong 
anyways lets keep fingers crossed for ubi paris devs
and now they want like half of their employees to leave? 
but now it's just a cancelled project... that's just heartbreaking 
.