Ubisoft to close Leamington Spa studio risking 100 jobs...

[dutchman]

Workers are set to be laid off in Leamington and Newcastle



A leading gaming company is set to close its office in Warwickshire. Ubisoft announced yesterday that it would be closing its Leamington site and restructuring its studio in Newcastle, threatening 100 jobs.

It forms part of a wider process to reorganise the workforce, which will affect 185 jobs across Europe. Plans would ensure 'long-term stability' at the firm, which is headquartered in France.

Ubisoft described the decision to shut the Leamington-based studio as 'difficult.' Bosses added that the gaming industry was becoming 'tough' with jobs also being cut in Düsseldorf and Stockholm.

Ubisoft has been plagued by delays and the underperformance of key titles, including Assassins Creed Shadows, which was originally due for release in November but will now go on sale in March. In December, Ubisoft closed its offices in San Francisco and Osaka and reduced production in Sydney, leading to the loss of 277 jobs.

In a statement shared on LinkedIn, Ubisoft said: “We held a meeting for all team members across Ubisoft Leamington and Ubisoft Reflections to inform them about significant changes at our UK studios. In an increasingly complex industry, Ubisoft has been undertaking a review of its global operations so we can deliver the best experiences to players in todays hugely competitive market.”

It added: “As a result of this process, we have announced a proposal to reduce the size of our teams in Leamington Spa and Newcastle, alongside the closure of our Leamington site. Approximately 100 roles across both studios could be impacted, and we will do everything we can to support everyone that leaves Ubisoft during this process.

“It is a difficult announcement to make, and we know that the industry is a tough place to be right now. We are committed to supporting those impacted by this announcement.”