Ubisoft just closed a studio weeks after it unionized — what this means for Halifax games

Why this closure actually matters to players

This caught my attention because a small studio that specialized in faithful mobile versions of big franchises was shut down less than a month after its team voted to unionize – and Ubisoft insists the decision predated the vote. For players that means two clear things: immediate gameplay access probably continues, but long-term support, live events and updates from that team are gone. If you play Assassin’s Creed Rebellion or the Halifax-backed work on Rainbow Six Mobile, this changes your roadmap.

Key takeaways

• About 70-71 jobs at Ubisoft Halifax eliminated; company cites pre-planned cost reductions, denies link to union vote.
• Games remain playable for now – no immediate server shutdowns announced – but expect no new Halifax-driven content or patches.
• Players should back up progress, link Ubisoft accounts, and download/keep installers for the affected titles.
• The timing raises legitimate skepticism about whether unionization accelerated shutdowns even if the company says otherwise.

Breaking down the hit to games — what still works

Ubisoft Halifax built and maintained mobile adaptations like Assassin’s Creed Rebellion and contributed to Rainbow Six Mobile’s beta. Rebellion — a squad-based, touch-optimized Assassin’s Creed spin that mixes 2.5D stealth, RPG progression and a surprisingly deep roster — is still on app stores and playable. Rainbow Six Mobile remains in regional beta pockets. Crucially, Ubisoft has not announced any immediate server closures, so you can still log in, play daily events and collect resources for now.

That “for now” is important. Mobile studios can be shuttered while live services continue until company-wide decisions trigger server wind-downs. Past Ubisoft mobile closures show how updates stop, events evaporate and eventually servers go offline — sometimes months after a studio closes. If you value progress, act conservatively.

What gamers should do today

• Download and keep the apps: install or re-install Assassin’s Creed Rebellion and Rainbow Six Mobile while they’re available in your region.
• Link your Ubisoft account / enable cloud saves: export or sync progress now to reduce risk of lost progress later.
• Stockpile currencies and season rewards you care about — events won’t be refunded when support dries up.
• Join official Discords, subreddit threads and community FAQs — small studios often leave community-run guides and tools that outlive company patches.

Why Ubisoft’s explanation isn’t the whole story

Ubisoft says the Halifax closure was part of a 24-month cost reduction plan and was decided before the December union vote. That’s plausible given the company’s broader restructuring over the last two years — multiple offices closed, headcount reduced and leadership shuffled. But timing matters. From a labor and gamer perspective, shutting a studio days after staff win representation looks, at minimum, politically tone-deaf and at worst retaliatory. The union has signaled legal action and even if courts don’t find a causal link, the move raises the risk calculus for future union drives at other studios.

Longer-term implications for mobile players

Mobile game stability is fragile. When mid-sized support teams vanish, features stall and community trust erodes. For Ubisoft’s mobile ecosystem that could accelerate consolidation toward fewer, higher-budget titles and more reliance on outside partners. For players that means more motivation to diversify: pick up alternatives with active dev teams, or prioritize single-player and offline mobile titles that don’t hinge on constant live support.

TL;DR — Bottom line for players

Games are playable now, but Halifax’s closure removes the team that made and maintained key mobile experiences. Back up and link your accounts, download the apps while they’re available, and assume updates and events could dry up. The timing of the shutdown — so close to a union vote — is more than an HR footnote: it should make players and devs skeptical about future commitments from big publishers.