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| Ubisoft Halifax workers have formed the first North American union at Ubisoft. |
By Jon Scarr
Workers at Ubisoft Halifax have officially formed the first North American union at Ubisoft, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing conversation around labour and job security in the games industry.
Sixty-one employees at the Nova Scotia-based studio have successfully unionized, joining the Game & Media Workers Guild of Canada, Local 30111. According to CTV News, the union was certified by the Nova Scotia Labour Board on December 18.
Ubisoft Halifax Becomes First North American Ubisoft Union
Employees at Ubisoft Halifax first announced their intention to unionize in June. While the process included several hearings and early challenges, the company ultimately dropped its objections, allowing a vote to proceed in December.
Lead programmer Jon Huffman told CTV News that 73.8 per cent of workers voted in favour of unionizing, with every eligible employee participating in the vote. Huffman described the outcome as a “really strong turnout” and said it represented a clear message from staff.
The Halifax studio, founded in 2010 and officially becoming part of Ubisoft in 2015, is best known for its work on mobile titles such as Assassin’s Creed Rebellion and Rainbow Six Mobile.
A Deliberate And Cooperative Process
Rather than framing the move as adversarial, Huffman emphasized cooperation and long-term commitment. He said workers remain dedicated to the studio and to building a working relationship with Ubisoft going forward.
“We love where we work, we love who we work with,” Huffman said. “We’re in this for the long haul.”
He also noted that the Halifax team received support from Ubisoft unions in Europe, particularly in France, and described the certification as the first step in defining goals and structure heading into 2026.
Unionization Continues To Be A Major Industry Theme
The Ubisoft Halifax vote lands at a time when labour issues have been increasingly visible across the games industry. Unionization was one of the most closely watched trends throughout 2025, with multiple developer surveys showing strong support for collective representation.
We recently explored how job insecurity and sudden dismissals continue to shape conversations around labour in games in our editorial When a Dream Job in Games Suddenly Disappears, which looked at how fragile stability can feel even at major studios.
At the same time, companies have been responding to broader concerns in different ways. Sony has publicly discussed changes aimed at improving studio culture and sustainability, which we covered in our look at PlayStation rethinking work-life balance in the games industry.
Not every story has been as positive. Reports of mandatory overtime tied to development milestones, including at major studios, continue to surface, such as in our recent report on mandatory overtime reportedly ordered for an Intergalactic demo at Naughty Dog.
A Notable Moment For Ubisoft And Canadian Game Workers
For Ubisoft Halifax, the successful certification represents a first not just for the studio, but for Ubisoft in North America as a whole. While it remains to be seen whether other Ubisoft teams will follow, the move has already started conversations across the company and beyond.
As developers continue to navigate layoffs, workload pressures, and long-term career stability, the Halifax vote stands out as an example of workers choosing a structured path forward.
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