Ubisoft Restructures: Massive Entertainment Faces Job Cuts Amid New Strategic Focus

Ubisoft has announced a restructuring of its studio Massive Entertainment, recognized for the The Division and Avatar franchises. According to the company, these changes could lead to approximately 55 employees losing their jobs.

The restructuring will affect Massive’s offices in both Malmö and Stockholm. It comes on the heels of a voluntary departure program initiated last year, along with the finalization of a long-term strategic roadmap. Ubisoft has stated that this process has provided a «clearer understanding of the structure and resources needed for sustainable studio operation.»

In the future, Massive will focus on the The Division franchise, which includes the development of a third installment and ongoing support for the second game, as well as working with the Snowdrop engine and the Ubisoft Connect platform.

The announcement for Tom Clancy’s The Division 3 occurred in 2023, but the company has not provided much information about the project since then. Executive producer Julian Gerighty recently remarked that the new game will have «as significant an impact as the first The Division.»

Beyond The Division, the studio is engaged in a project centered on innovations and technologies, details of which are expected to be revealed in the future.

In a letter to employees, Ubisoft emphasized that the changes are «forward-looking and organizationally driven, and not related to individual performance, recent projects, or team quality.» The company noted that the restructuring would commence with individual agreements, and those affected will be notified and supported in compliance with local laws.

This latest round of layoffs occurs amid changes within Ubisoft: at the end of last year, the company launched a new division, Vantage Studios, in collaboration with Tencent, which now oversees the Rainbow Six, Assassin’s Creed, and Far Cry franchises. Tencent owns 25% of the new entity and serves in an advisory capacity, while the ultimate creative and business decisions remain with the managing directors Christophe Derennes and Charlie Guillemot.