Ubisoft Shuts Winnipeg and Belgrade Studios, Cuts Up to 380 Jobs in Major Restructuring

Ubisoft is closing its Winnipeg and Belgrade studios and restructuring its Barcelona office, resulting in up to 380 job losses as the company intensifies its global cost-saving drive. The restructuring affects multiple locations and follows the cancellation and postponement of over a dozen games in 2026.

Ubisoft announced the immediate closure of its Winnipeg and Belgrade studios while confirming that its Barcelona office will be streamlined to concentrate solely on Rainbow Six projects. According to internal communications referenced by VGC, these closures and restructurings could impact as many as 380 employees across the company. This move is a direct extension of Ubisoft’s ongoing cost-reduction strategy aimed at decreasing fixed costs by an additional €200 million over the next two years.

Key facts:

• Studios Closing: Ubisoft Winnipeg and Ubisoft Belgrade are confirmed for closure.
• Restructuring: Ubisoft Barcelona’s role will be narrowed to focus only on Rainbow Six, leading to redundancies.
• Job Impact: Up to 380 job losses are anticipated, with headcount reductions occurring in both creative and publishing teams globally.
• Additional Cuts: In March, Ubisoft cut approximately 100 positions at Red Storm Entertainment, a key Tom Clancy game developer.
• Paris HQ: Up to 200 jobs, or roughly 18% of staff, may be eliminated at Ubisoft’s Paris headquarters.
• Further Layoffs: Confirmed job losses have also taken place at the Ubisoft Toronto studio and unspecified others.
• Cost Savings Goal: The company aims to reduce fixed costs by €200 million by 2028.
• Game Development: Since beginning its reset, Ubisoft has cancelled at least six games and delayed seven others.

Studios Closed and Functions Affected

Ubisoft Winnipeg, launched in 2018 and employing around 100 people, primarily supported technology development for Ubisoft’s proprietary Anvil and Snowdrop game engines. The Belgrade studio, established in 2016, contributed to major titles including The Crew 2, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six, Riders Republic, and Skull & Bones. The closure of these studios represents a strategic shift to consolidate development capabilities and reduce long-term overhead.

According to company documents, “Ubisoft Barcelona will be restructured to focus solely on Rainbow Six projects,” with affected employees facing redundancy. The reorganisation extends to Ubisoft’s Global Publishing division, which will see cross-company role reductions as part of the broader cost-cutting imperative.

Wider Implications and Ubisoft’s ‘Major Reset’

The latest wave of cuts forms part of Ubisoft’s declared ‘major reset’, a transformative strategy that includes radical restructuring of creative teams into more autonomous “creative houses.” The company’s global workforce has already weathered the cancellation of at least six planned games and the postponement of seven more in the last year alone. In early 2026, approximately 100 positions were eliminated at Red Storm Entertainment, a long-established Tom Clancy studio, with Ubisoft indicating that Red Storm would no longer develop its own games going forward.

Job losses are not limited to North America and Europe. At Ubisoft’s Paris headquarters, proposals have been made to eliminate up to 18% of staff, equating to 200 roles, alongside additional confirmed layoffs in Toronto and elsewhere. These aggressive cost-cutting measures are intended to deliver a €200 million reduction in fixed costs within two years, with savings realised through fewer studios, leaner publishing operations, and streamlined creative teams.

Summary:

• Winnipeg Studio: Opened 2018, 100 employees, specialised in Anvil and Snowdrop engine tech.
• Belgrade Studio: Opened 2016, contributed to The Crew 2, Rainbow Six, Riders Republic, and Skull & Bones.
• Job Losses: Up to 380 affected this round, including up to 200 at Paris HQ and 100 at Red Storm earlier in 2026.
• Official Strategy: “Major reset” focused on forming independent “creative houses” and reducing recurring costs substantially.

The consolidation is the most sweeping at Ubisoft in years and reflects broad industry pressure to maintain profitability amid rising development costs and shifting market dynamics. Ubisoft’s strategic realignment is expected to shape its approach to AAA and live-service game production through 2028.