Despitelaying off 45 employees earlier this week,Ubisoftcontinues hiring new staff for an unannounced new IP.
No Ubisoft, I’ll Never ‘Feel Comfortable With Not Owning My Games’
Part of a “cost-cutting plan,“Ubisoft’s layoffshave resulted in almost 1000 people losing their jobs since 2022across their United States and Asia-Pacific offices. But, that hasn’t deterred them from working on new projects.
Ubisoft started hiring voice actors forits secretive"Iridium” project earlier this March. Now,it’s hiringa “Graphics Team Lead” and a “Lead Animator” for itsCanadian and German offices,both for “unannounced projects.”
Details are scarce, but the March casting call revealed thatthe project is a brand-new post-apocalyptic IP. “Iridium” will reportedly have players visit the remnants of a once great city called “Highpoint City” as protagonist “Whittaker,” a classic “only man for the job.”
But here’s the kicker: Highpoint City is too irradiated for normal humans, so players will have to ditch their flesh-and-blood bodies andget their minds “copied into mechanical Shells, allowing them to explore this hostile landscape.”
The post-apocalyptic, almost sci-fi nature of “Iridium” is adeparture fromUbisoft’s usual gamedesign,which has consisted of somewhat grounded games likeFar CryandAssassin’s Creed. And although some parts ofeach serieshad a tenuous grasp on reality at times, this is very different.
Given Ubisoft’s secrecy and recent statements ondevelopment timelines,“Iridium” will likely not be released or announced soon.
Profits Soar Despite Massive Staff Cuts
Ubisoft’s financial statementshowed $2.1 billion in net bookings in May of this year. But, met targets and consistent year-over-year improvements still resulted inmany employees losing their jobs.
Withtens of thousands of layoffs last yearandeven more before the end of this year, it might seem like the gaming industry is struggling, but it’s not.
These Constant Layoffs Are Going To Make Games Worse In The Coming Years
The consequences of mass layoffs will be felt in the years to come.
Despiteexpected growth going downfrom2.8% to 2.1%, the industry is projected to bring in $187.7 billion this year; for context, Hollywood is expected to bring in $104.4 billion.
The industry isn’t collapsing or struggling;it’ssimply not doing as well as investors expected. Ubisoft isn’t an outlier; it is only another studio bending to the whims of corporate investors. Withmore power going towards studios with AI useand job shortages, it’s starting to look more like a studio’s market than anything else.
Between record profits and layoffs, we can only hope that the remainder of this year won’t be as grim; and that “Iridium” doesn’t haveAssassin’s Creedviewpoints,but I’m not sure which is more unrealistic.
