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Ubisoft Plans About 100 Job Cuts Across Its German Studios
Ubisoft has confirmed a voluntary departure plan for its Düsseldorf, Berlin and Mainz studios, with about 100 roles affected. The final scale is still under negotiation.
Ubisoft is planning to cut around 100 roles across three German studios in Düsseldorf, Berlin and Mainz, according to reports from October 14. The company has confirmed a voluntary departure plan, while the final scale and buyout terms are still being negotiated with employee representatives.
What happened
Game File first reported the plan, and Insider Gaming followed with details on the affected locations. Düsseldorf, the largest site with more than 400 workers, accounts for more than half of the roles that could be affected. Berlin and Mainz each have just over 100 staff, and heise linked the Mainz cuts to the team behind the Anno series.
A Ubisoft representative described the approach in measured terms: "The voluntary plan is the primary measure being proposed to support the intended organizational changes." Benedikt Grindel, the managing director, said at a town hall that the changes aim to "best position our German studios for the future" by clarifying responsibilities and how the studios are organized.
The German news lands the same week Ubisoft proposed closing its RedLynx studio and cutting around 70 roles at its Singapore operation. Works council talks have started at the German sites.
Key details
- Company: Ubisoft
- Locations: Düsseldorf, Berlin and Mainz, Germany
- Roles: about 100 could be affected, with a voluntary departure plan as the primary measure
- Company statement: Ubisoft confirmed the voluntary plan and the planned organizational changes
- Reported by: Game File, with coverage from Insider Gaming and heise
- Unconfirmed: the final number of roles, the buyout terms and the timeline for any agreement
What it means for developers
- Restructuring usually starts with voluntary options: Ubisoft is framing the cuts as a voluntary plan first. Indie teams facing restructuring can use similar early options to reduce the risk of forced layoffs.
- Studio structure drives these decisions: Grindel's comments point to clearer responsibilities as the goal. A small team should map who owns each product decision before it grows.
- Watch the multi-studio pattern: The same week brought the RedLynx proposal and these German cuts. Large publishers are reshaping their studio footprints, so creators should keep their portfolios and contacts current.
- Works councils shape the timeline: In Germany, employee representatives negotiate the process. Studios hiring or operating there should understand the consultation rules before making changes.
- Confirm numbers before you react: Several outlets reported roughly 100 roles, but Ubisoft has not confirmed the final figure. Treat early numbers as estimates until the company or employee representatives confirm them.
