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| Ubisoft Halifax studio signage on the exterior of the Nova Scotia-based studio. |
By Jon Scarr
Former Ubisoft Halifax workers are looking for answers after the studio shut down last week, putting dozens of people out of work, according to CTV News.
Ubisoft announced on Wednesday that it was closing its Halifax location. The move came just weeks after workers at the studio successfully voted to unionize, forming Ubisoft’s first union in North America.
A Sudden Ending for Ubisoft Halifax
Jon Huffman, a lead programmer, told CTV News he moved to Nova Scotia more than four years ago to work at Ubisoft Halifax. “It was a town hall setting,” Huffman said. “It was obvious that it was a surprise to everybody. It was a surprise to our leadership team.”
He described the mood as emotional and unexpected. “There was a lot of sadness, but it was surprising how quickly there was a bit of laughter. Within an hour people were joking with each other. It was something coming to a close,” Huffman said.
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| Jon Huffman, former lead programmer at Ubisoft Halifax, speaking with CTV News following the studio’s closure. |
Ubisoft Cites Company-Wide Cost Cutting
Ubisoft, a Paris-based publisher known for franchises including Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six, said it was closing the studio as part of an ongoing two-year process to “streamline operations, improve efficiency, and reduce costs” across the company, CTV reported.
“We are committed to supporting all impacted team members during this transition with resources, including comprehensive severance packages and additional career assistance,” Ubisoft said in a written statement shared by CTV.
CTV also reported that Ubisoft’s stock price in Paris has dropped sharply since 2018, reflecting broader financial pressure on the company.
No Reassignments Planned for Halifax Staff
In a follow-up email, Ubisoft confirmed to CTV News that none of the 71 members of the Halifax studio will be moved to other teams. Huffman said the union plans to speak with Ubisoft about that decision.
“There are currently job openings in Canada that we have qualified members for,” Huffman said. “It’s not an odd thing for a company the size of Ubisoft to pay to relocate members. They paid to relocate me to Halifax.”
Huffman also questioned why reassignment was not considered. “Ubisoft proudly states their games are made in collaboration with studios around the world,” he said. “We do have to ask the question: why not reassign the Halifax team to other teams? We’re here, we’re talented, why can’t we get to making games?”
CWA Canada Says It Will Seek Answers
CTV reported that CWA Canada will “pursue every legal recourse” to protect its union members at Ubisoft Halifax and determine the reasoning for the closure. That response followed Ubisoft’s announcement that it had shut down the Halifax studio as part of broader restructuring.
“We will be looking for Ubisoft to show us that this had nothing to do with the employees joining a union,” CWA Canada president Carmel Smyth said in a news release quoted by CTV.
In an email statement shared with CTV, Ubisoft said the decision was not connected to unionization. “The closure is linked to Ubisoft’s need for restructuring and cost-optimization, which began two years ago, well before the unionization process started at the studio in June 2025,” the company said.
The union’s position and planned response were outlined earlier this week, when CWA Canada formally responded to the closure announcement.
Union Vote, Studio History, and Project Impact
CTV reported that workers at the studio expressed interest in forming a union last June and held a vote later that month, though it was not officially counted until December. Huffman said 73.8 per cent of employees voted in favour of unionizing.
The Halifax studio was founded in 2010 and joined Ubisoft in 2015. In recent years, it focused on mobile free-to-play projects, including Assassin’s Creed Rebellion and Rainbow Six Mobile.
Ubisoft also confirmed to CTV News that live operations for Assassin’s Creed Rebellion will end, with no new content planned for the game following the studio’s closure.
What the Closure Means for Nova Scotia
With Ubisoft Halifax shut down, Huffman told CTV that options for game development in Nova Scotia have narrowed significantly. He pointed to the 2024 closure of Alpha Dog Games, a Microsoft-owned Halifax studio, and said that situation helped push his team toward unionizing.
“I love making video games,” Huffman said. “I’ve questioned myself on it many times, but every time I’ve decided I wanted to stay. The game industry collectively is moving to unionization but it’s a slow process.”
He also highlighted the local community. “In Nova Scotia we have a very dedicated game development community. It’s small but dedicated,” Huffman said, referencing students at NSCC and Dalhousie taking part in game jams and building smaller projects.
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