Ubisoft Fires The Division & Avatar Studios, Massive Entertainment Six Days After Halifax Closure

Ubisoft is restructuring its operations, resulting in layoffs at Massive Entertainment, the studio behind The Division and the upcoming Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.This move comes just six days after the company announced the closure of Ubisoft Halifax, a support team primarily focused on testing.

the layoffs at Massive Entertainment impact employees across various departments, though the exact number of positions eliminated hasn’t been officially disclosed. ubisoft has not yet released a detailed statement regarding the reasons for the restructuring, but it aligns with a broader trend within the gaming industry of companies reassessing their projects and workforce needs amid challenging economic conditions.

This restructuring follows Ubisoft’s recent financial performance, which saw a decline in net bookings and revised financial forecasts. In November 2023, Ubisoft lowered its full-year guidance, citing a more cautious market environment. Gamespot reported on the financial concerns at the time.

The closure of Ubisoft Halifax, announced on january 19, 2024, affected approximately 60 employees. The Verge detailed the Halifax studio closure and its impact.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, released in december 2023, received mixed reviews but was a significant title for Ubisoft. The future of The Division franchise remains unclear as Ubisoft navigates these changes.

For more details, you can watch the full discussion on the Kurt & Lucy Gotcha Covered episode: https://youtu.be/5b3BQeKPes4