Things are getting messy over at Ubisoft’s Paris Headquarters as the management just dropped the hammer, proposing to cut 200 jobs. That’s almost a fifth of the staff there. The unions are gearing up for a strike following this news. This all came out on January 26, 2026, as news broke via French outlet Les Echos. The layoffs fit into a much larger €200 million cost-cutting plan tied to a new “Creative House” org chart.
Ubisoft Unions Are Pushing Back Hard On The Layoff Announcement
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They’re leaning on France’s Rupture Conventionnelle Collective (RCC) basically, a system for voluntary mutual layoffs for Ubisoft International’s 1,100 Paris staff on French contracts. In simple terms, employees and the company negotiate the terms of layoffs rather than the company just forcibly firing staff.
Here’s how it has to go: unions approve the terms first, then French labor authorities give the green light. Ubisoft hopes to kick it off by early April 2026, and if the rollout targets aren’t met, forced layoffs may kick in. Similar to last year’s voluntary cuts at Massive Entertainment, which gutted Ubisoft Stockholm.
The context screams turmoil. Ubisoft shelved six games since mid-2025, including the popular Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake, and the Halifax studio shutdown after a union vote. They’ve even canned unannounced projects to double down on blockbuster titles.
Globally, Ubisoft has about 17,000 employees; however, only 5% of them are in France, who unfortunately bear the brunt of the force. Unions, already hit by 1,700 voluntary exits in 2024, say these numbers just drain morale and drive talented people away.
Investors thrived on the news, and stocks saw a 10% jump. But for developers, it’s the same old story: more layoffs mean more uncertainty. For sports and action fans, it means smaller teams, fewer risks, and a laser focus on proven money-makers like potential NBA collabs or open-world hits. If the union follows through with a strike, it could pressure Ubisoft to rethink its plans, changing terms or negotiating.
Ubisoft assures the Paris HQ isn’t going anywhere, and says creativity will flourish. Although the unions are just not buying it. A showdown is brewing in Paris, and whether a walkout changes the story or management pushes their plan through remains to be seen. All eyes lock on Paris.
