Ubisoft has closed its Halifax studio, eliminating 71 jobs just over two weeks after the facility’s workers voted to unionize. The move has reignited concerns about corporate retaliation against labor organizing in the video game industry.

The Timeline Raises Questions

On December 22, 2025, workers at Ubisoft Halifax announced they had successfully unionized with the Game & Media Workers Guild of Canada, with 73.8 percent of employees voting in favor. Sixteen days later, on January 7, 2026, Ubisoft announced the studio’s closure.

The timing has sparked immediate controversy. The Game & Media Workers Guild stated it will “pursue every legal recourse” to defend affected union members, while calling the decision “devastating.”

Company Claims Unrelated Decision

Ubisoft maintains the closure is unrelated to unionization, framing it as part of broader cost-cutting measures. In an official statement, the company said: “Over the past 24 months, Ubisoft has undertaken company-wide actions to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and reduce costs.”

The company emphasized it “fully respects employees’ rights to unionize” and noted that unionized teams exist elsewhere in the organization. Workers are receiving comprehensive severance packages and career assistance.

Studio’s Work and Broader Context

Ubisoft Halifax, acquired in 2015, focused primarily on mobile game development within major franchises including Rainbow Six and Assassin’s Creed. The studio also supported live operations for titles like Assassin’s Creed Rebellion, which will now cease production.

The closure is part of a larger restructuring pattern. In 2024, Ubisoft’s headcount dropped by eight percent, and the company has closed offices in San Francisco, London, and Leamington while making redundancies across multiple studios. The video game industry has faced increasing financial pressure, prompting many developers to prioritize projects with higher commercial potential.

The Halifax closure marks a significant moment in gaming labor organizing, as workers and unions face questions about whether unionization efforts trigger corporate retaliation in an industry already marked by widespread job instability.

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