Ubisoft Barcelona has initiated layoffs impacting 51 staff members shortly after the release of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. This move follows a broader restructuring plan Ubisoft announced earlier this year, which involved multiple studio closures and project cancellations. Despite the team’s efforts to propose new Assassin’s Creed projects, the Barcelona location will no longer receive future mandates for this franchise.
The affected employees, including long-time staff, have expressed disappointment at the development. Isabel Codina García, a QA/QC lead who spent seven years at the studio, shared her feelings of gratitude mixed with frustration over the way the chapter ended. The announcement sparked protest actions, with workers striking under the Spanish union La Confederación General del Trabajo. The union demanded negotiations for a new studio mandate and job protection measures to prevent further layoffs for at least five years.
Ubisoft Barcelona’s transition will now concentrate exclusively on the Rainbow Six franchise. Black Flag Resynced, which recently launched, quickly became one of the company’s highest-rated releases this year, earning strong critical acclaim with a Metacritic score of 84—the best rating the series has seen since the original 2013 release.
This restructure is part of Ubisoft’s larger plan to reduce costs by €200 million, which has led to the closure of studios in Winnipeg, Belgrade, Stockholm, and Halifax, alongside the cancellation of several upcoming titles including three new intellectual properties and the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake. To streamline operations, Ubisoft has introduced the Creative House model, dividing its production efforts across five specialized divisions. One such division, Vantage Studios, supported by Tencent, now oversees key franchises like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six.
The company’s senior vice president of studio operations, Marie-Sophie de Waubert, highlighted the need for extended development periods on seven Ubisoft titles to enhance quality and maximize long-term value. She emphasized that Ubisoft must push beyond previous transformations to compete effectively in an increasingly aggressive AAA market, especially within shooter and major franchise categories.