Ubisoft Plans to Cut 200 More Jobs at Its Paris Headquarters, Layoffs Continue to Expand

Following last week’s announcement of canceling six games, closing two studios, and adjusting staffing across multiple locations, Ubisoft is further advancing its cost-reduction plan. According to IGN, the company recently proposed a new round of layoffs targeting its Paris headquarters, aiming to cut approximately 200 positions through France’s unique “Rupture Conventionnelle Collective” (RCC) process. This would affect about 18% of the headquarters’ current workforce of 1,100 employees.

A Ubisoft spokesperson told IGN, “In line with the new operational model and accelerated cost-reduction plan announced last week, Ubisoft International has initiated discussions to implement a collective voluntary departure agreement at its French headquarters, targeting up to 200 positions. At this stage, the proposal remains under discussion, and no final decision will be made until a collective agreement is reached with employee representatives and approved by French authorities.” The spokesperson also emphasized that the layoffs apply only to Ubisoft International employees under French contracts and do not affect other French entities or global teams.

The RCC process relies on voluntary negotiations between employees and the company to reach a collective termination agreement. However, if the desired number of layoffs cannot be achieved through this method, Ubisoft has not yet disclosed its follow-up plan.

Last week, Ubisoft closed its Stockholm studio (which contributed to Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora) and its mobile game studio Ubisoft Halifax, while also restructuring offices in Abu Dhabi, RedLynx (developer of the Trials series), and Massive (studio behind The Division series). Additionally, the company confirmed the cancellation of six games, including the highly anticipated Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake, with the other five titles still undisclosed. Ubisoft also delayed the release of seven games, including one unannounced title.

On the market front, Ubisoft’s stock price has remained under pressure recently. Since last week’s strategic restructuring announcement, shares have fallen by approximately 40%, marking a cumulative decline of 95% from the historical peak in January 2021. Behind the layoffs and project adjustments lie the company’s ongoing operational challenges and a crisis of confidence in the capital market.

It is worth noting that this layoff plan comes shortly after Ubisoft implemented a “five-day in-office workweek” policy, a move that may further influence some employees’ decisions to leave. Balancing cost control with talent retention will be a critical challenge for Ubisoft in the coming period.