After weeks of layoffs across multiple studios, Ubisoft has announced another round of layoffs and game cancellations as it reorganizes its Creative Houses.
According to Gameindustry.biz, Ubisoft confirmed in an interview the details of its Creative House structure, which comes with the closure of its Stockholm studio, alongside the cancellation of six games, the delay of seven more and the “final” round of layoffs to deliver €200 million in savings, including the closure of several studios. Most notably, the much-anticipated remake of Prince of Persia: Sands of Time has officially been scrapped.
Apparently, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said in a press release that they would “selectively close several studios and continue restructurings throughout the Group. While these decisions are difficult, they are necessary for us to build a more focused, efficient and sustainable organization over the long term.” The decision to cancel Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake alongside other games was because they “did not meet the new enhanced quality as well as more selective portfolio prioritization criteria at Group level.”
According to Ubisoft, the new structure will work as follows:
- Vantage Studios will focus on Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry and Rainbow Six franchises. Ubisoft has previously said it will contain the Montréal, Quebec, Sherbrooke, Saguenay, Barcelona, and Sofia studios
- Creative House 2 will deliver competitive and co-op shooters, and will include brands like Ghost Recon, Splinter Cell and The Division
- Creative House 3 will make live-service games, including Brawhalla, For Honor, Riders Republic, Skull and Bones and The Crew
- Creative House 4 will focus on immersive fantasy worlds and narratively-driven games, including Anno, Beyond Good and Evil, Might and Magic, Prince of Persia and Rayman.
- Creative House 5 is focused on family-friendly and casual games, including Just Dance, UNO, Hungry Shark, Invincible: Guarding The Globe and the company’s licensed Hasbro titles.
Apparently, Chief Financial Officer Frederick Duguet told GamesIndustry.biz that the restructuring, delays and other amendments would have a “non-cash impact in depreciation of our capitalized R&D for around €650 million, impacting fiscal 2026, on top of a gross margin reduction of €330 million that derives directly from a net booking reduction of €350 million.”
This follows a somewhat turbulent sequence of financial events—as Ubisoft recently sold a minority stake to Tencent, acquired March of Giants and its development team from Amazon, and recently shuttered its Halifax studio.
