Ubisoft today revealed that it has closed down its Vancouver development branch, known for creating multiplatform sports titles such as Pure Futbol (pictured) and Motionsports Adrenaline.
A Ubisoft spokesperson confirmed the news to Game Informer, saying, "Unfortunately, we haven’t found the right formula for success for the talented team there."
Despite the Vancouver studio's demise, Ubisoft said, "Team members will have the opportunity to consider positions in other Ubisoft studios and we will work with each of them to help find the best next step, whether it be within Ubisoft or outside.”
Ubisoft Vancouver first took shape in 2009, when Ubisoft acquired the independent studio Action Pants, which had up to that point worked on the kid-friendly Academy of Champions: Soccer for the Nintendo Wii.
At the time of the acquisition, Action Pants housed more than 110 employees, though Ubisoft did not disclose how many staff members were let go when Ubisoft Vancouver shut down.
In 2010, Ubisoft announced that it would "ramp down" development at its Brazilian development branch Southlogic Studios (Imagine: Wedding Designer), which was acquired just weeks before Ubisoft picked up Action Pants.
I wonder if the BC government will pay attention when people point out that SUBSIDIES in Ontario and Quebec are affecting us game devs out here on the left coast???
My thoughts exactly. This leaves me with the strong impression that they've essentially set fire to their Vancouver studio to build their Toronto shop, all for 2 million dollars (or thirty pieces of silver).
The larger issue here is what Canada's strategy is regarding building various sectors of our economy, and moving beyond subsidy models, which put no onus on the beneficiaries towards lasting or sustainable returns. Canada has been turning to a knowledge economy for decades, with little to no help from tax credits which don't take into account the long-term necessities of our nation.
Cannibalizing our development communities and forcing people to uproot & chase jobs is far less appealing now that the full time jobs are rare in industry these days, and the cost of living, real estate etc. have increased significantly all across Canada.
We need to partner with academia, technology and entrepreneurial circles if we want the best future for our awesome Canadian nerds. Can the federal government not recognize that all these developers have transferable skills and knowledge of rapid prototyping that might serve us really well in future? And that this is timed with the fact that distribution has never been more accessible when our manufacturing sector is eroding to nothing? Can't we get some training credits together for mature students? Incubator spaces?
Cannibalizing our development communities and forcing people to uproot & chase jobs is far less appealing now that the full time jobs are rare in industry these days, and the cost of living, real estate etc. have increased significantly all across Canada.
We need to partner with academia, technology and entrepreneurial circles if we want the best future for our awesome Canadian nerds. Can the federal government not recognize that all these developers have transferable skills and knowledge of rapid prototyping that might serve us really well in future? And that this is timed with the fact that distribution has never been more accessible when our manufacturing sector is eroding to nothing? Can't we get some training credits together for mature students? Incubator spaces?