The gaming trade has been no stranger to layoffs in recent times, with many corporations pressured to make tough selections to remain afloat in an more and more aggressive market. Regardless of being one of many greatest gamers within the trade, it appears that evidently even Ubisoft will not be immune to those challenges.
This week, the French gaming big introduced a brand new spherical of layoffs affecting a number of places of work throughout the USA, leaving many followers questioning about the way forward for a few of their favourite franchises.
The Division Sequence Takes One other Hit
One of many places of work hit hardest by the current layoffs was Ubisoft‘s Purple Storm Leisure studio in Cary, North Carolina. This information comes simply months after the studio announced the cancellation of The Division: Heartland, a much-anticipated free-to-play spin-off of the favored Tom Clancy’s The Division sequence.
Extra trade layoff information: Ubisoft laid off 45 individuals from its San Francisco and North Carolina (Purple Storm) places of work this week, Bloomberg has realized. Earlier this 12 months, Purple Storm canceled a recreation based mostly on Tom Clancy’s The Division. https://t.co/xAE08tP8xE
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) August 16, 2024
In response to Bloomberg, a spokesperson for the corporate acknowledged:
“[a] tough but obligatory resolution was made to align these studios’ organizations with their future enterprise and growth aims.”
Nevertheless, for a lot of followers of the looter-shooter sequence, this information is simply one other disappointment in an extended line of setbacks.
Reactions have been a mixture of disappointment and frustration:
I hate seeing an increasing number of builders lose their jobs.
In regard to The Division, I believed the Division 1 had a great setting and loads of potential for a single participant narrative. I want we’d’ve gotten that.— MasonAGR (@MasonAGR) August 16, 2024
Some are even speculating about the way forward for Purple Storm Leisure:
absolutely Purple Storm will not be round for much longer, proper? hate to see all these Division initiatives being cancelled!!
— Steve (@ScubaSteve1219) August 16, 2024
With the cancellation of Heartland and now these layoffs, the way forward for The Division franchise appears unsure. Nevertheless, followers can take some solace in the truth that the third installment of the principle sequence is (as of now) nonetheless being developed by Huge Leisure.
Ubisoft’s Struggles and “Quad-A” Ambitions
The layoffs on the firm come amidst a difficult time for the corporate, which has confronted criticism for its dealing with of assorted controversies and its perceived anti-consumer practices. Some avid gamers have even taken to mocking CEO Yves Guillemot’s current feedback about “AAAA” video games:
Hate to see layoffs, however when you may have a tonedeaf firm like Ubisoft and their anti-consumer practices, oh and a CEO that calls video games quad-A, we will not be shocked. @Ubisoft Outlaws and Shadows might be bought at steep worth drops, and I am a giant AC man.
— Serge343 (@Capcom333) August 16, 2024
For context, Guillemot not too long ago referred to the studio’s newest pirate recreation, Cranium and Bones, as a “quadruple-A” title—a term that has since been widely ridiculed by the community. The remark has solely added to the notion that Ubisoft is out of contact with its viewers.
Because the gaming trade continues to evolve and face new challenges, it stays to be seen how Ubisoft will navigate these tough instances. Will the corporate be capable of flip issues round and win again the belief and enthusiasm of its once-loyal fanbase?
Solely time will inform, however one factor is for certain: these current layoffs are a stark reminder of the human value of the gaming trade’s ongoing struggles.
What do you consider the current gaming layoffs and the cancellation of The Division: Heartland? Do you imagine the corporate can flip issues round, or are they headed for extra hassle? Tell us your ideas within the feedback beneath!