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Ubisoft Closes Winnipeg Studio, Affects 65 Employees
On June 10 2026, Ubisoft Entertainment SA announced the shutdown of its Winnipeg studio, a move that will impact roughly 65 staff members. The decision, confirmed by Ubisoft Canada and reported by CTV News, Shacknews, and MobileSyrup, marks the latest chapter in the publisher’s aggressive cost‑cutting drive.
The Winnipeg office had long served as a support hub for Ubisoft’s in‑house game engines. According to the company, the studio contributed to the development of the Anvil and Snowdrop engines that power several flagship titles. Its closure will therefore affect the technical backbone that underpins many of Ubisoft’s ongoing projects.
The shutdown follows a wave of layoffs that began in 2025, when Ubisoft announced the loss of 700 employees worldwide. In 2026, the company has entered its sixth round of workforce reductions. Industry reports indicate that a total of 245 employees have been affected by four separate layoff events this year, including the Winnipeg closure.
Winnipeg is not the only studio to feel the squeeze. Earlier in 2026, Ubisoft shuttered its Belgrade studio and announced staff reductions at its Barcelona office. The cumulative effect of these actions has led to an estimated 380 employees being laid off across the affected studios.
The studio’s closure is part of a broader trend in the video‑game industry, which has seen a wave of layoffs since the pandemic‑era expansion peaked in 2022. According to a Wikipedia entry on the 2022‑2026 video‑game industry layoffs, the sector has lost an estimated 45,000 jobs from 2022 to mid‑2025. Ubisoft’s recent cuts align with this pattern of restructuring.
Founded in 1986 by the Guillemot brothers, Ubisoft is headquartered in Saint‑Mandé, France, and operates more than 45 studios worldwide. As of May 2021, the company employed over 20,000 people. While the Winnipeg studio is smaller than flagship locations such as Ubisoft Montreal and Ubisoft Toronto, it played a supporting role in engine development and other technical tasks.
The company’s CEO, Yves Guillemot, has not issued a public statement regarding the Winnipeg shutdown. Ubisoft Canada’s spokesperson confirmed that all staff members at the Winnipeg location will be impacted, but did not disclose severance details.
Industry observers note that Ubisoft’s cost‑cutting measures aim to stabilize the publisher’s finances after a decline in revenue in 2024 and the large layoffs of 2025. The company’s strategy appears to focus on consolidating support functions and reducing overhead.
The Winnipeg closure is expected to have ripple effects on other Ubisoft studios that rely on the engine work performed there. However, Ubisoft has not indicated that any major game projects will be directly affected.
As of now, Ubisoft has not announced any plans to reopen the Winnipeg office or to relocate its staff. The company’s next public update is expected during its upcoming quarterly earnings call in September, where it may provide further details on its restructuring progress.
The shutdown underscores the ongoing volatility in the gaming sector, as companies adjust to changing consumer habits and a post‑pandemic market environment. Ubisoft’s decision to close its Winnipeg studio reflects a broader industry shift toward leaner operations and a focus on core development assets.
The Winnipeg shutdown is the latest in a series of moves that have already reduced Ubisoft’s global workforce by several hundred employees. The company’s next steps will likely involve further consolidation and a reassessment of its studio portfolio.
The situation remains fluid, and Ubisoft has not yet disclosed whether additional studios will be affected in the coming months. Employees affected by the Winnipeg closure will receive the company’s standard severance package, though specific details have not been released.
The broader impact of Ubisoft’s layoffs continues to be felt across the Canadian gaming community, where the company has been a major employer. The Winnipeg shutdown marks a significant contraction in Ubisoft’s Canadian presence.
The company’s next earnings report, scheduled for September, will likely provide more insight into the financial health of Ubisoft and any further restructuring plans.
The Winnipeg office had long served as a support hub for Ubisoft’s in‑house game engines. According to the company, the studio contributed to the development of the Anvil and Snowdrop engines that power several flagship titles. Its closure will therefore affect the technical backbone that underpins many of Ubisoft’s ongoing projects.
The shutdown follows a wave of layoffs that began in 2025, when Ubisoft announced the loss of 700 employees worldwide. In 2026, the company has entered its sixth round of workforce reductions. Industry reports indicate that a total of 245 employees have been affected by four separate layoff events this year, including the Winnipeg closure.
Winnipeg is not the only studio to feel the squeeze. Earlier in 2026, Ubisoft shuttered its Belgrade studio and announced staff reductions at its Barcelona office. The cumulative effect of these actions has led to an estimated 380 employees being laid off across the affected studios.
The studio’s closure is part of a broader trend in the video‑game industry, which has seen a wave of layoffs since the pandemic‑era expansion peaked in 2022. According to a Wikipedia entry on the 2022‑2026 video‑game industry layoffs, the sector has lost an estimated 45,000 jobs from 2022 to mid‑2025. Ubisoft’s recent cuts align with this pattern of restructuring.
Founded in 1986 by the Guillemot brothers, Ubisoft is headquartered in Saint‑Mandé, France, and operates more than 45 studios worldwide. As of May 2021, the company employed over 20,000 people. While the Winnipeg studio is smaller than flagship locations such as Ubisoft Montreal and Ubisoft Toronto, it played a supporting role in engine development and other technical tasks.
The company’s CEO, Yves Guillemot, has not issued a public statement regarding the Winnipeg shutdown. Ubisoft Canada’s spokesperson confirmed that all staff members at the Winnipeg location will be impacted, but did not disclose severance details.
Industry observers note that Ubisoft’s cost‑cutting measures aim to stabilize the publisher’s finances after a decline in revenue in 2024 and the large layoffs of 2025. The company’s strategy appears to focus on consolidating support functions and reducing overhead.
The Winnipeg closure is expected to have ripple effects on other Ubisoft studios that rely on the engine work performed there. However, Ubisoft has not indicated that any major game projects will be directly affected.
As of now, Ubisoft has not announced any plans to reopen the Winnipeg office or to relocate its staff. The company’s next public update is expected during its upcoming quarterly earnings call in September, where it may provide further details on its restructuring progress.
The shutdown underscores the ongoing volatility in the gaming sector, as companies adjust to changing consumer habits and a post‑pandemic market environment. Ubisoft’s decision to close its Winnipeg studio reflects a broader industry shift toward leaner operations and a focus on core development assets.
The Winnipeg shutdown is the latest in a series of moves that have already reduced Ubisoft’s global workforce by several hundred employees. The company’s next steps will likely involve further consolidation and a reassessment of its studio portfolio.
The situation remains fluid, and Ubisoft has not yet disclosed whether additional studios will be affected in the coming months. Employees affected by the Winnipeg closure will receive the company’s standard severance package, though specific details have not been released.
The broader impact of Ubisoft’s layoffs continues to be felt across the Canadian gaming community, where the company has been a major employer. The Winnipeg shutdown marks a significant contraction in Ubisoft’s Canadian presence.
The company’s next earnings report, scheduled for September, will likely provide more insight into the financial health of Ubisoft and any further restructuring plans.
