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Driver studio Ubisoft Reflections hit with layoffs

Ubisoft is cutting 185 jobs across multiple studios in “targeted restructurings.”

Driver studio Ubisoft Reflections hit with layoffs

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Ubisoft Reflections, the studio behind the Driver series, has been hit with layoffs in “targeted restructurings” affecting staff across multiple Ubisoft studios.

Alongside the Reflections studio, jobs are also being cut at Ubisoft Düsseldorf and Ubisoft Stockholm, while Ubisoft Leamington, best known for the DJ Hero games when it was owned by Activision, will close. Around 100 roles are affected across Ubisoft’s Reflections and Leamington studios.

“In an increasingly complex industry, Ubisoft has been undertaking a review of its global operations so we can deliver the best experiences to players in today’s hugely competitive market,” Ubisoft Reflections said in a statement on its Linkedin page.

Driver San Francisco Dodge Challenger

“As a result of this process, we have today announced a proposal to reduce the size of our teams in Leamington Spa and Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, alongside the closure of our Leamington site. Approximately 100 roles across both studios could be impacted, and we will do everything we can to support everyone that leaves Ubisoft during this process.”

“This is a difficult announcement to make, and we know that the industry is a tough place to be right now. The talent, enthusiasm and skill of our UK teams are second to none, and we are committed to supporting those impacted by this announcement.”

Ubisoft confirmed to Eurogamer that 185 employees are being let go across the four studios. The redundancies and studio closure come after Ubisoft said it would take “decisive steps” to reshape the company earlier this month after several high-profile releases like Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora underperformed.

Ubisoft says it will “review and pursue various transformational strategic and capitalistic options to extract the best value for stakeholders.”

Originally founded in 1984 before being acquired by Ubisoft in 2006, the Reflections studio, formerly Reflections Interactive, is best known for creating Shadow of the Beast, Destruction Derby and the open-world Driver series. Released in 2011, Driver: San Francisco was the last mainline entry in the Driver series.

Last year, Ubisoft said it was “actively working” on Driver projects after a planned live-action TV series based on the IP was cancelled, sparking speculation of a series revival.  

Based in Newcastle, Ubisoft Reflections has also collaborated with other Ubisoft studios on games like The Crew, Watch Dogs Legion and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.