By Sagar V. Mankar 
Ubisoft is set to lay off 185 employees and permanently close its Leamington studio in the UK as part of a larger cost-cutting initiative. This decision also affects employees at Ubisoft Düsseldorf, Stockholm, and Reflections, with “targeted restructurings” reducing staff in these locations.
In a statement to Eurogamer, Ubisoft explained, “As part of our ongoing efforts to prioritize projects and reduce costs that ensure long-term stability at Ubisoft, we have announced targeted restructurings and the permanent closure of Ubisoft Leamington. Unfortunately, this will impact 185 employees overall.”
The closure of Ubisoft Leamington marks the end of its journey as a support studio, assisting with projects like Star Wars Outlaws and Skull and Bones. Founded in 2002 as FreeStyleGames, it was initially recognized for creating DJ Hero and later worked on Guitar Hero and Call of Duty titles under Activision before Ubisoft acquired it in 2017.
This restructuring comes amid broader challenges for Ubisoft. The company has struggled with underperforming game releases such as Star Wars Outlaws, the live-service shooter XDefiant, and Skull and Bones. Delays to major titles, including Assassin’s Creed Shadows, have added to the uncertainty. Originally set to launch earlier, the game is now scheduled for release on March 20. Developers have stated the delay was used to improve core features like parkour mechanics.
Ubisoft’s headcount has steadily decreased since 2022, dropping from 20,279 employees to 18,666 by late 2024. Reports suggest internal tensions, as discussions with Tencent regarding a potential buyout have stalled due to disagreements over control.
As the company navigates these challenges, the upcoming launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows is expected to play a critical role in Ubisoft’s future.