Ubisoft Closes Assassin's Creed Rebellion Studio After Union Vote

Assassin's Creed Rebellion was developed at Ubisoft Halifax, a Canadian studio now confirmed to be closing, days after its staff voted to unionise. Ubisoft said the decision was part of a wider restructuring plan and unrelated to the union vote. The closure affects 71 employees.

Ubisoft Halifax worked primarily on mobile titles, including Assassin's Creed Rebellion and Rainbow Six Mobile. The studio’s shutdown was first reported by Gamesindustry.biz, which noted the timing of the decision closely followed the studio’s successful unionisation effort. Ubisoft Halifax staff announced earlier this week that they had formed Ubisoft’s first labour union in North America.

The union vote concluded with nearly 74 percent of employees in favour. The bargaining unit included workers across programming, production, design, art, and research and development. Organising began in June 2025. The vote had originally been scheduled for last summer, but the process was delayed after Ubisoft raised formal challenges. Those challenges were later withdrawn before votes were counted in December.

In public statements released after the vote, the newly unionised staff described their effort as collaborative rather than adversarial.

“We believe that creativity flourishes when workers feel secure, supported, and empowered,” the statement read.

“We are unionising not in opposition to Ubisoft, but in partnership, with the goal of ensuring our studio remains a beacon of equity, excellence, and innovation.”— Ubisoft Halifax staff

Days later, Ubisoft confirmed the studio would be shut down. In a statement provided to Gamesindustry.biz, the company rejected any link between the closure and unionisation.

“Over the past 24 months, Ubisoft has undertaken company-wide actions to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and reduce costs,” Ubisoft said.

“As part of this, Ubisoft has made the difficult decision to close its Halifax studio. 71 positions will be affected. We are committed to supporting all impacted team members during this transition with resources, including comprehensive severance packages and additional career assistance.”— Ubisoft spokesperson.

According to Ubisoft, the cost-cutting measures date back to the period following the end of pandemic restrictions, when industry-wide revenue growth slowed. The company said the Halifax decision was part of those longer-term adjustments. A spokesperson added that Ubisoft continues to recognise and work with unions in other regions.

Ubisoft operates studios with unionised staff in Europe and elsewhere. Still, the proximity between the Halifax vote and the closure has drawn scrutiny within the industry. No evidence has been presented linking the two events, but the timing has prompted questions about how labour organisation fits into Ubisoft’s current restructuring strategy, particularly as the publisher continues to expand its partnership with Tencent.

Before becoming part of Ubisoft, the Halifax studio operated as Longtail Studios. It was acquired in 2015 and previously worked on Rocksmith and other music-based titles before transitioning toward mobile development. Assassin's Creed Rebellion became one of its most visible projects, featuring stylised versions of characters from across the franchise.

Read also, Ubisoft is teasing a return to the Assassin’s Creed series’ pirate era. In a New Year’s message posted on X by Ubisoft Nordic, the company referenced “pirates ready their ships,” widely interpreted as a hint toward the long-rumoured Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag remake, reportedly titled Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, which has yet to receive an official announcement.