Video game giant Ubisoft closes Winnipeg office

Video game developer Ubisoft has closed its Winnipeg office, affecting about 65 employees.

Caroline Stelmach, spokeswoman for the company, confirmed the closure on Wednesday. She did not say when, exactly, the office closed.

“Ubisoft is continuing to take targeted actions to reduce costs and focus resources on its strategic priorities as part of its efforts to strengthen the business over the long term,” Stelmach said in an email.

The video game giant — headquartered in France and best known for its Assassin’s Creed franchise — opened its Winnipeg studio in the Exchange District to much fanfare in 2019.

The Winnipeg office started with a staff of 25 that year and grew to 100 by 2022, when the company announced plans to add another 200 jobs to the local office by 2030. At the time, Ubisoft said it planned to spend another $139 million in Manitoba over eight years.

Ubisoft has been cutting costs in recent years as the company has struggled financially, with revenues declining in 2024 and layoffs beginning in 2025. The company also closed its Halifax office earlier this year.

Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham said his thoughts are with the people who were laid off and their families.

“This is very difficult news for the 65 people affected in Winnipeg,” said the mayor in an emailed statement. “These are talented people and my thoughts are with them and their families.”

He stressed the closure is a result of the company’s issues, not Winnipeg’s.

“The company has been restructuring globally for several years, closing studios and laying off thousands of employees across multiple countries,” said Gillingham.

He added he’s confident in the city’s economy, pointing to recent housing and development announcements across Winnipeg, including major industrial parks in Centreport South, and developments in Winnipeg’s aerospace, aviation and defence industries.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca