Striking employees at Ubisoft Barcelona have criticized the company's initial severance pay offer as inadequate, following the announcement that up to 51 jobs could be eliminated at the studio. The job cuts are part of a broader wave of approximately 380 layoffs across Ubisoft globally, affecting offices in Winnipeg and Belgrade, which are slated for complete closure, as well as Barcelona and the company's global publishing division.
At Ubisoft Barcelona, the proposed restructuring aims to reduce the team's size and refocus its efforts exclusively on the Rainbow Six franchise. This shift has put a significant portion of the staff at risk. The situation has drawn attention, particularly given the recent commercial success of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, which sold two million copies within its first 24 hours. While Ubisoft Singapore led the development of Resynced, the Barcelona studio made substantial contributions, including significant work on main quests, specific in-game regions like Gibara, underwater diving side-missions, and enemy combat AI.
Negotiations are underway to potentially preserve some roles and secure fairer severance packages for departing employees. A strike was held yesterday, with approximately 90 attendees, including staff carrying a banner that read "Corporate Greed" in a style reminiscent of the Assassin's Creed logo, alongside flags representing the CGT (General Confederation of Labor) union. A further strike is planned for Thursday, July 16.
"The severance pay they're offering is far below the minimum expected, and below what they've offered for previously laid off employees from the studio," one affected employee told IGN. While discussions continue regarding job preservation, with the possibility of some roles transitioning to work on Rainbow Six, the status of the Assassin's Creed development team appears to be definitively impacted by these cuts.
This marks another period of significant workforce reduction for Ubisoft, which has already seen hundreds of employees let go and several studios closed in early 2026. Previous actions included the cancellation of six games, the closure of Ubisoft Stockholm and Halifax, layoffs in Abu Dhabi, and adjustments at studios like Massive Entertainment and RedLynx. In Paris, protests followed the elimination of 200 jobs at the company's headquarters in January.
Ubisoft has stated, "We are aware of the strike action announced at Ubisoft Barcelona and respect employees' right to express their views. Ubisoft has initiated a proposed restructuring of Ubisoft Barcelona as part of broader efforts to reduce costs and focus resources on strategic priorities. Under this proposal, the studio would focus solely on Rainbow Six projects, which may impact up to 51 employees. This remains a proposal, and no final decision will be made until the collective consultation process has concluded. We are committed to constructive dialogue with employee representatives and to supporting employees throughout this period."