Ubisoft has shut down its Halifax game development studio, laying off 71 employees and effectively ending large-scale video game development in Nova Scotia. The company said the closure is part of a broader global restructuring effort aimed at cutting costs and improving efficiency, citing declining revenue from Assassin’s Creed Rebellion, the mobile game the studio had supported since its 2018 release.

The shutdown comes just weeks after workers at the Halifax studio formed Ubisoft’s first union in North America, a move driven in part by growing instability across the video game industry. Ubisoft maintains the decision was unrelated to unionization and part of restructuring efforts underway for nearly two years, but the union says it will seek clarification on the timing of the closure.

The loss highlights wider challenges in Canada’s tech and digital media job market, where layoffs and studio closures have become increasingly common as companies scale back after years of rapid growth. For Halifax in particular, the closure leaves few remaining opportunities for game developers, following Microsoft’s shutdown of its Alpha Dog studio in 2024. The situation underscores the vulnerability of regional tech hubs to global industry downturns.

Have you been laid off by Ubisoft in Canada? Contact our employment lawyers today. Our legal team offers a free consultation and works on a contingency basis—there are no fees unless you win your case.

Vernon Ramesar’s original article,“Video game giant Ubisoft closes Halifax studio, cutting 71 jobs” was published in CBC News on January 7, 2025. Read the Full CBC News story.

We cannot assist unionized employees, and if you are a member of a union, you should speak to your union representative before consulting with a disability lawyer about your workplace issue.