More Ubisoft Layoffs, This Time at Massive Entertainment
The wave of layoffs across Ubisoft continues, this time affecting Ubisoft Massive Entertainment, the studio behind the acclaimed Snowdrop Engine and major titles such as Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and Star Wars Outlaws. Following earlier news that Ubisoft RedLynx had laid off up to 60 employees as part of a restructuring to refocus on “small screens,” Massive has now issued a statement confirming its own internal restructuring and the launch of a “voluntary career transition program.”
In the official statement, Ubisoft Massive explained the reasoning behind the move, stating:
“As part of our ongoing evolution and long-term planning, we have recently realigned our teams and resources to strengthen our roadmap, ensuring our continued focus on The Division franchise and the technologies, including Snowdrop and Ubisoft Connect, that power our games.”
— Massive Entertainment - A Ubisoft Studio 🎮 (@UbiMassive) October 22, 2025
The studio elaborated that the voluntary career transition program allows “eligible team members” to take “their next career step on their own terms,” with Ubisoft providing financial and career support for those who opt in.
Ubisoft Massive emphasized that it remains “fully committed” to its upcoming and ongoing projects, including The Division 2, The Division 2: Survivors, The Division Resurgence, and The Division 3. This statement confirms that while some workforce reductions are occurring, Ubisoft’s focus on its flagship The Division franchise remains intact.
However, the phrasing of the announcement, referring to layoffs as a “career transition program” has not gone unnoticed within the industry. While the term “voluntary” suggests employees have agency in the decision, it also raises concerns about whether these “eligible” employees were effectively signaled out for redundancy, a phrasing some interpret as corporate cushioning of an unwelcome reality.
Ubisoft Massive’s restructuring follows a string of challenges for Ubisoft this year. Both Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and Star Wars Outlaws struggled to meet expectations critically and commercially, despite being technological showcases for the Snowdrop Engine, which remains one of the most visually advanced rendering technologies in modern game development.
Meanwhile, The Division 3, confirmed to be in early development, will reportedly be one of Massive’s key focuses moving forward. The studio’s statement hints at a tighter strategic roadmap that prioritizes stability and franchise management over expansion.
For many in the gaming industry, these layoffs are another reminder of the ongoing turbulence in AAA development, as studios attempt to balance long-term investment in technology and IPs with the financial pressures of delivering consistent blockbuster success.
Do you think Ubisoft’s focus on The Division series will help the company stabilize after a tough year, or is it time for the publisher to rethink its creative direction?
