Ubisoft Layoffs

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As someone who has been a dedicated Ubisoft fan for years, it’s hard not to feel a pang of sadness and disbelief with each new wave of layoffs at the company. I remember the excitement when they announced Star Wars Outlaws, and now, it seems like we’re constantly saying goodbye to promising projects and talented teams.

Recall the time when Ubisoft disclosed that Star Wars Outlaws would be led by a new creative director, signaling potential enhancements for their development process?

Company leaders ensured there would be no celebration as they announced the unfortunate news of upcoming layoffs, impacting approximately 277 employees. This is a tough decision coming at the end of a challenging year.

As a gamer, I’ve learned that unfortunately, the whole Osaka studio, the San Francisco crew, and a portion of the Sydney team have been affected in the latest developments, based on what Stephen Totilo from Game File has reported.

News arrives following the declaration that their free-to-play hero shooter game, XDefiant, will adopt a similar approach as Concord.

In May 2024, XDefiant was introduced. It had a promising debut, but it hasn’t been able to live up to the expectations of its executive team.

Instead of enhancing the game, Ubisoft chose to halt downloads and registrations right away, setting an expiration date for the servers on June 3, 2025. Furthermore, they decided to let go of half of the team working on it.

How Ubisoft Games Die

Just about a month ago, news broke out that sent shockwaves through the gaming industry, with Ubisoft announcing a closure of their Ubisoft Montpellier studio – known for its work on ‘Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown’.

In more than ten years, the initial installment of the series received the highest ratings on Metacritic at its launch, suggesting it was made with great care and affection – a quality not often seen in recent Ubisoft productions.

Despite the majority of the Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown team being assigned to different projects instead of being let go, it highlights an issue with the disorganized management style that has long been a problem within the company.

Absolutely! As a business functioning within a capitalist system, Ubisoft’s primary objective is to generate revenue consistently over the long haul, not just in the immediate future.

At present, Ubisoft appears to be releasing games that don’t meet expectations by a small margin straight away, which seems to prioritize shareholder satisfaction without considering the emotional or creative investment.

Although such a management style may temporarily enhance a particular quarter’s performance report, it can strain relationships with gamers who are drawn to the enchantment and immersive aspects of gaming.

The result? You guessed it, worse sales later, and by association, displeased shareholders.

This year, Ubisoft experienced something similar when a Slovakian investment firm attempted a ‘behind-the-scenes takeover’ of their leadership, and it appears that the company’s proprietors are now contemplating departing too.

In today’s scenario, it’s not just the shareholders who are suffering losses, but rather the 277 employees who are parting ways with an established company that was once considered a vital part of the industry. Unfortunately, they find themselves jobless in one of the toughest employment markets the gaming industry has experienced since its beginning.

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2024-12-04 18:11