Ubisoft shut down one of its divisions for good. The company’s restructuring is taking another toll

According to reports from GamesIndustry.biz, Ubisoft has announced the closure of its studio located in Leamington Spa, as stated in a recent LinkedIn post by team representatives. In this message, they expressed gratitude towards the employees for their dedication and hard work.

After several remarkable years, it’s time for us to announce that Ubisoft Leamington has officially ceased operations. We can’t express enough our heartfelt appreciation towards our exceptional team. Their creativity, enthusiasm, and commitment have indelibly shaped the games we developed, the memories we created, and the community we fostered in Leamington.

It wasn’t unexpected that the studio would close – Ubisoft had already announced job cuts back in January this year. This decision affected approximately 200 employees across Leamington and Ubisoft Reflections in Newcastle, as well as their studios in Düsseldorf and Stockholm. Some employees from Leamington were offered remote contracts, but the majority of the team was let go. Unfortunately, the studio has now permanently closed its doors.

According to reports, Ubisoft claims these actions are essential to focus on projects and cut expenses, with the ultimate goal of maintaining long-term financial security for the company.

Previously called FreeStyleGames and now known as Ubisoft Leamington studio, they were renowned for creating the DJ Hero series. Additionally, they contributed to various major projects published by them, including Tom Clancy’s The Division and Star Wars: Outlaws. It is rumored, though unconfirmed, that the team was working on a new, undisclosed project before their closure.

Context of Ubisoft’s reorganization

Closing the studio is part of Ubisoft’s broader reorganization that has sparked growing debate among staff and shareholders. The company recently unveiled a new subsidiary tasked with overseeing its top three franchises – Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six. This venture has received an investment of 1.16 billion euros from Tencent, giving them a 25% ownership stake.

Based on Tom Henderson’s disclosure, AJ Investments and other minority shareholders are urging for an extraordinary shareholders meeting and are prepared to pursue legal action to renegotiate their agreement with the Chinese conglomerate. The uncertainty among investors may escalate due to the French company’s decisions regarding layoffs and studio closures.

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2025-04-07 12:32