Ubisoft Hiring For New IP Despite Company Layoffs

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Ubisoft Hiring For New IP Despite Company Layoffs

Highlights

  • Ubisoft remains focused on development with new hires, amid layoffs.
  • Ubisoft is working on a post-apocalyptic IP named “Iridium” with unique gameplay elements.
  • Despite many layoffs, the gaming industry shows consistent growth and record profits.

As a long-time gaming enthusiast and industry observer, it seems that the rollercoaster of emotions continues to spin at breakneck speed. On one hand, we see Ubisoft, a titan in the gaming world, making bold moves with their new IP “Iridium” – a post-apocalyptic, sci-fi adventure that promises to be unlike anything we’ve seen from them before. Yet, on the other hand, they’re also shedding staff, which is a stark reminder of the harsh realities facing many in this industry.

Even after letting go of 45 employees this past week, Ubisoft is still onboarding fresh talent for a yet-to-be-revealed new project.

Under a “budget reduction strategy,” Ubisoft has let go of approximately 1000 employees since the year 2022, impacting their offices in the United States and Asia-Pacific region. Despite these job losses, they continue to move forward with new projects.

Back in March, Ubisoft began bringing on voice actors for their clandestine project called “Iridium.” More recently, they’ve posted job openings for a “Graphics Team Lead” and a “Lead Animator,” with these positions being offered at their Canadian and German offices. Both of these roles are for unspecified projects.

Information is limited, but the March casting call suggests that the project is an entirely new post-apocalyptic intellectual property. The game, titled “Iridium,” is said to let players explore the remains of a once-great city known as “Highpoint City” as the protagonist, “Whittaker,” who is described as the ideal candidate for the task at hand.

But here’s the kicker: Highpoint City is too irradiated for normal humans, so players will have to ditch their flesh-and-blood bodies and get their minds “copied into mechanical Shells, allowing them to explore this hostile landscape.”

The unique, futuristic atmosphere of “Iridium” marks a significant shift from the typical game design by Ubisoft, known for creating games with a more realistic foundation such as “Far Cry” and “Assassin’s Creed.” While there were moments in both series that slightly strayed from reality, this new game is distinctly different.

Considering Ubisoft’s current policy of keeping things under wraps and their recent comments about project deadlines, it seems unlikely that we’ll see or hear about “Iridium” in the near future.

Profits Soar Despite Massive Staff Cuts

Ubisoft Hiring For New IP Despite Company Layoffs

In May of this year, Ubisoft reported a total of $2.1 billion in earnings from sales and subscriptions. Despite meeting their targets and showing continuous year-on-year growth, the company unfortunately had to let go of several employees.

Despite over ten thousand job cuts in the previous year, and anticipating more layoffs by year-end, it may appear that the gaming industry is facing hardships; however, this isn’t entirely accurate.

Even though the projected expansion has been revised from 2.8% to a lower 2.1%, the industry still anticipates generating an impressive $187.7 billion this year, which is significantly higher than Hollywood’s expected earnings of $104.4 billion for context.

The industry isn’t failing or facing difficulties; rather, it’s not meeting the anticipated performance by investors. Ubisoft is not an exception; it’s just another studio that’s succumbing to the demands of corporate shareholders. As studios with AI adoption gain more control and job vacancies become prevalent, it seems less like a market and more like a turf for those studios.

Amidst soaring earnings and job cuts, we can merely cross our fingers that the rest of the year won’t be as bleak; and it’s hard to decide which scenario seems less plausible – that “Iridium” doesn’t offer views like in Assassin’s Creed.

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2024-08-18 14:38