Ubisoft launched Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced worldwide today. However, the launch has unfortunately been accompanied by layoffs affecting the very studio that contributed to the remake.
According to multiple reports Ubisoft Barcelona was disbanded, with 51 employees being let go. One anonymous worker described it as part of a “broader pattern of mistreatment”, rather than an isolated incident. Sources told Insider Gaming that a launch celebration was planned but eventually scrapped and replaced with a small gathering.
The layoffs were first announced back in June and were reportedly expected to happen regardless of Black Flag Resynced’s performance. This is especially notable, as the game reportedly had strong pre-order interest. I think it’s sad that, in this industry, you can be fired even if you create a successful product.
In response to the layoffs, Ubisoft Barcelona employees began a series of partial strikes on June 30. The striking workers were pushing for protection of the 51 affected roles. Additional benefits they were hoping to get were a five-year guarantee against future layoffs and remote work opportunities.
Part of a Larger Wave
The layoffs in Barcelona were unfortunately just one piece of a larger restructuring Ubisoft announced in June. That announcement resulted in the closure of Ubisoft Winnipeg (about 65 jobs) and Ubisoft Belgrade (about 100 jobs). The latter office contributed directly to development work on Black Flag Resynced. Layoffs also affected Ubisoft San Francisco, and roughly 120 workers were reassigned from Rainbow Six Siege at Ubisoft Montreal. In total, nearly 380 jobs have been affected at Ubisoft since June. Ubisoft Barcelona is reportedly being kept open, but will focus on the Rainbow Six franchise going forward.
From the beginning of 2026, we have seen cuts or closures across multiple Ubisoft offices. Some include jobs at Ubisoft Toronto, Red Storm Entertainment, Massive’s Stockholm office, and the closure of Ubisoft Halifax. This means around 680 jobs so far this year have been affected, out of a workforce of more than 15,000.
After a string of delays, financial struggles, and underperforming releases, Ubisoft created a new subsidiary called Vantage Studios. It bundled up the Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six franchises under this imprint. Studios outside of it, including Winnipeg and Belgrade, have been most impacted by closures and layoffs.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced
Black Flag Resynced is a remake of 2013’s Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. It’s rebuild from the ground up. The game is developed on a newer version of Ubisoft’s Anvil engine. While primary contributions are from Ubisoft Singapore, the game also features work from 15 Ubisoft studios in total. It brings back protagonist Edward Kenway with reworked mechanics, new side content, and updated visuals.
Early impressions of the remake have been mostly positive. In our review we gave it a 9.5 saying “The Golden Age of Piracy may be over, but Black Flag Resynced seems intent on reminding us why it’s one of the most romanticized time periods of the modern age.”
I’ve had the pleasure of playing both the original and Resynced, and am a fan of both projects. It does feel a bit odd, though, to enjoy a game knowing the people who made it may have been fired. I think we can agree that being laid off right after your project launches stings.
Ubisoft has not yet commented specifically on the relation to Resynced’s launch and the layoffs. My thoughts are with all those affected today and by the staffing reductions across the industry this year.
