Ubisoft has closed its Halifax studio, eliminating 71 positions and igniting a wave of industry-wide concern after the shutdown occurred just days—sometimes described as mere weeks—after employees formally unionized. While the company insists the decision is part of a long-running cost‑cutting strategy, the timing has drawn sharp criticism from labor advocates and renewed debate about the state of worker rights in the gaming industry.
The closure was confirmed in statements to multiple outlets, with Ubisoft framing the move as a continuation of its two‑year effort to “streamline operations, improve efficiency, and reduce costs”. The company emphasized that the decision was “unrelated” to the Halifax team’s recent union certification, which had made the studio the first unionized Ubisoft workplace in North America.
A Studio With Deep Roots in Mobile Development
Ubisoft Halifax traces its origins back to 2003 as Longtail Studios, a mobile‑focused developer founded during the early rise of smartphone gaming. Ubisoft acquired the studio in 2015, rebranding it as Ubisoft Halifax and positioning it as a key contributor to the publisher’s mobile portfolio. Over the years, the team worked on titles such as Assassin’s Creed Rebellion and Rainbow Six Mobile, supporting Ubisoft’s broader strategy to expand its flagship franchises into the mobile market.
Despite its relatively small size, the Halifax team had become a stable fixture in Ubisoft’s Canadian operations, complementing the much larger Montreal and Quebec City studios. Its specialization in mobile development gave it a distinct identity within the company’s global network.
The Unionization Milestone—and the Shock That Followed
In late December, 61 Halifax employees voted to join the Game & Media Workers Guild of Canada, with roughly 74% in favor of forming a bargaining unit. The Nova Scotia Labour Board certified the union shortly afterward, marking a historic moment for Ubisoft’s North American workforce.
The celebration was short‑lived. Within days, employees received notice that the studio would be shut down entirely. For many workers, the abruptness of the decision felt like a direct response to their organizing efforts, even as Ubisoft publicly denied any connection.
Carmel Smyth, president of CWA Canada—the parent organization of the new union—called the closure “devastating” and vowed to pursue all legal avenues to ensure workers’ rights were not violated. Halifax employees echoed that sentiment, stating they were “devastated” and actively exploring ways to protect their members.
Ubisoft’s Defense: A Broader Restructuring Effort
Ubisoft maintains that the Halifax shutdown is part of a larger restructuring initiative that has been underway for two years. The company has been aggressively cutting costs, canceling unannounced projects, and tightening its global footprint amid financial pressures and shifting market conditions. The publisher has repeatedly cited the need to “improve efficiency” and “reduce costs” across its operations.
The company’s statement to VGC and other outlets emphasized that the Halifax closure was not influenced by unionization, describing the timing as coincidental. Ubisoft also said it would provide support to affected employees during the transition, though details of that support have not been publicly disclosed.
A Flashpoint in a Volatile Industry
The Halifax shutdown arrives during a turbulent period for the gaming industry, which has seen widespread layoffs, studio closures, and project cancellations across 2024 and 2025. But the proximity of this closure to a successful union vote has made it a symbolic flashpoint in the ongoing struggle over labor rights in game development.
For many observers, the situation raises uncomfortable questions: Can unionization efforts survive in an industry where entire studios can be dissolved overnight? And what protections exist for workers when corporate restructuring and labor organizing collide?
Labor advocates argue that the Halifax case underscores the need for stronger legal frameworks to prevent companies from undermining union efforts through sudden closures. Ubisoft’s insistence that the decision was purely financial has done little to quell skepticism, especially given the studio’s long history and recent momentum.
A Legacy Cut Short
For the Halifax team, the closure marks the end of a 20‑year journey that began long before Ubisoft acquired the studio. What was once a small mobile developer grew into a recognized part of one of the world’s largest gaming publishers—only to be shuttered at a moment when its workers had taken a major step toward securing collective bargaining rights.
Whether the shutdown becomes a cautionary tale or a catalyst for broader change remains to be seen. But for now, the gaming industry is watching closely, aware that the implications of this decision extend far beyond a single studio in Nova Scotia.
