All articles tagged with #ubisoft montreal
Ubisoft is reassigning hundreds of staff away from Rainbow Six Siege at Ubisoft Montreal (about 120 developers, roughly 12%), plus around 50 off Rainbow Six Siege Mobile and an unannounced project. The moves are described as normal resource adjustments rather than outright layoffs, though officials did not rule out future cuts as projects evolve and priorities shift.
Ubisoft has canceled Alterra, its Animal Crossing–inspired social-sim from Ubisoft Montreal, which had been in development for nearly three years. Staff were sent home and reassigned to other projects, with no layoffs announced, as the company restructures and halts multiple projects.
Ubisoft Montreal is facing backlash from its staff after reportedly reneging on promises of long-term remote work and mandating a return to the office for a minimum of two days a week. The decision has left employees in "turmoil" as many had made life decisions based on the belief that full-time remote work would be possible. The sudden policy change has sparked anger, health concerns, and issues surrounding the state of the office. Ubisoft is encouraging employees to find solutions with their managers, but exemptions to the return-to-office order will only be considered as a last resort. This move follows a similar policy at Activision Blizzard that led to a significant staff exodus.
Ubisoft Montreal employees are in disarray after being forced to return to the office following a three-year work from home (WFH) period. The move has been met with division and accusations of broken promises, as employees made major life decisions based on the belief that WFH would continue. Concerns include transit, safety amid rising COVID cases, accessibility accommodations, and the quality of the office. There is a lack of trust in management's ability to address these issues, given previous allegations of a toxic workplace culture. Some speculate that the move is an intentional effort to push employees to leave without severance. Ubisoft claims the return to the office will improve effectiveness and agility, but employees remain skeptical.
Ubisoft Montreal employees are expressing anger and frustration over what they perceive as broken promises from Ubisoft leadership regarding a return to the office. Many employees believed they could work remotely long-term, but the company has now mandated a minimum of two days a week in the office starting September 11, 2023. Employees have cited various issues with working in the office, including noise, expenses, lack of equipment, and health concerns. The announcement has further eroded trust in Ubisoft's management, with some employees speculating that the change is a soft layoff strategy. The situation mirrors Blizzard's experience, where a similar forced return-to-office policy resulted in a mass exodus of talent.