Ubisoft Layoffs January 2026: What to Do If You Were Laid Off

On January 21, 2026, Ubisoft announced a major restructuring that closed studios, canceled games, and eliminated jobs across the company. If you were affected, you're likely dealing with shock, uncertainty, and a lot of questions about what comes next.

This guide covers the practical steps: understanding your severance, filing for unemployment, protecting yourself financially, updating your resume, and starting your job search.

What Happened at Ubisoft

Ubisoft announced a reorganization into five "Creative Houses," each focused on specific game genres. As part of this restructuring:

• Studios closed: Halifax (Nova Scotia, Canada) and Stockholm (Sweden) have been shut down
• Games canceled: Six titles discontinued, including the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake
• More layoffs coming: Additional workforce reductions will be announced with the February 12, 2026 earnings report
• Return to office: The company is implementing a five-day in-office policy

The restructuring affects an estimated 17,000-person workforce globally, with the full scope of layoffs still unclear.

What to Do First If You Were Laid Off from Ubisoft

Gather your documents

Before you lose access to company systems, collect:

• Your termination letter or separation notice
• Severance agreement (read it carefully before signing)
• Benefits information, especially health insurance details
• Your last pay stubs
• HR contact information for follow-up questions
• Any performance reviews or project documentation you're allowed to keep

Understand your severance

Ubisoft's severance terms vary by location and are subject to local labor laws. Your severance package may include:

• Severance pay (often based on years of service)
• Extended health benefits
• Outplacement services
• Non-disparagement and confidentiality clauses

Don't sign immediately. You typically have time to review. If you have questions about the terms, consider having an employment lawyer look at it, especially if you have significant tenure.

Filing for Unemployment After Ubisoft Layoffs

File as soon as possible. Delays in filing mean delays in receiving benefits.

If you worked at Ubisoft Halifax (Canada)

Apply for Employment Insurance (EI) through Service Canada. Recent temporary measures under Pilot Project 24 (extended through April 11, 2026) have improved access:

• The one-week waiting period is waived
• You can receive EI even if you have severance pay
• Long-tenured workers may qualify for extended benefits

Apply here: Service Canada EI Benefits

For more on the Canadian job market, see hiring trends in Canada and hiring trends in Quebec (Montreal remains a major game development hub).

If you worked at Ubisoft Stockholm (Sweden)

Swedish workers have access to the Arbetslöshetskassa (A-kassa) unemployment insurance system. If you're a member of an unemployment fund, file your claim promptly. Sweden's labor protections typically provide strong support during transitions.

More information: Arbetsförmedlingen

For Swedish labor market context, see hiring trends in Sweden.

If you worked at Ubisoft in France or other locations

Workers at Ubisoft's French headquarters or other European studios should consult local employment authorities. France has strong worker protections, and restructuring processes typically involve works council consultation.

For French market context, see hiring trends in France.

Protect Your Finances After Being Laid Off

Create a quick budget

Figure out how long your money will last:

• Coming in: Severance, unemployment benefits, savings, any other income
• Going out: Rent/mortgage, utilities, food, insurance, debt payments

If outflows exceed inflows, reduce non-essential spending now.

Avoid financial traps

Layoffs attract bad offers. Be cautious of:

• High-interest payday loans or credit card cash advances
• Cashing out retirement accounts early (taxes and penalties can take 30-40%)
• "Quick cash" schemes that seem too good to be true

If you're struggling with bills, contact creditors directly about hardship programs before missing payments.

Watch out for scams

Large layoffs bring scammers targeting vulnerable job seekers.

Red flags:

• Paying upfront for job placement or resume services
• Requests for banking information early in a hiring process
• Pressure to "act now" or lose an opportunity
• Vague job descriptions with unrealistic pay

Verify any recruiter or opportunity independently before engaging.

Updating Your Resume After Ubisoft

Your resume needs to reflect your Ubisoft experience clearly and position you for what's next.

How to list your Ubisoft role

Include your title, dates (month/year), and a brief, neutral note about the separation:

Senior Game Designer | Ubisoft Halifax | March 2022 – January 2026 Role eliminated as part of company-wide restructuring

Focus on shipped work and impact

Game industry resumes should emphasize what you actually built and achieved:

• Shipped titles: List games you worked on that released
• Your contribution: Be specific about what you did, not just your team's work
• Measurable impact: Performance improvements, user metrics, efficiency gains
• Tools and tech: Engines, languages, pipelines, proprietary tools

Weak: "Worked on game development". Instead change to a Stronger: "Designed and balanced economy systems for [Title], achieving 40% improvement in player retention metrics"

Weak: "QA tester". Instead change to a Stronger: "Led QA for [Title] launch, coordinating 12-person team across 3 time zones; shipped with 94% first-week crash-free sessions"

Make it ATS-friendly

Many companies use applicant tracking systems that scan resumes before humans see them. Use standard formatting, clear section headers, and relevant keywords from job descriptions.

For detailed guidance, see how to make your resume ATS-friendly.

Update your LinkedIn

Your LinkedIn headline should describe what you do or want, not just "Former Ubisoft":

Game Designer | Systems Design & Live Ops | Open to Opportunities

See how to optimize your LinkedIn profile for more guidance.

Finding Your Next Job After Ubisoft

Game industry opportunities

Despite industry turbulence, studios are still hiring. The game industry is large and diverse.

Where to look:

• Studio career pages (Riot, EA, Epic, Activision Blizzard, indie studios)
• Game industry job boards (Hitmarker, Work With Indies, GamesIndustry.biz jobs)
• LinkedIn job postings
• Industry Discord servers and communities

Strong game markets:

• Canada: Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver
• US: Los Angeles, Seattle, Austin, Bay Area
• Europe: UK, Germany, Poland, Nordic countries

Adjacent industries that hire game talent

Your skills transfer beyond games:

• VFX and film: 3D artists, animators, technical artists
• Enterprise software: Engineers, PMs, QA specialists
• AR/VR and spatial computing: Many roles overlap with game development
• Simulation and training: Game engines power corporate and military training
• Tech companies: Product, engineering, and design roles

Build a focused search plan

Quantity doesn't beat quality. A realistic weekly plan:

• 5-10 tailored applications (not 50 generic ones)
• 3-5 networking conversations
• Portfolio updates if applicable
• Follow-up on pending applications

For strategic job search guidance, see job search strategy 2026.

When to Consider Retraining or Pivoting

If the game industry feels uncertain or you're drawn to something new, retraining might make sense. But start small before committing to expensive programs.

Options:

• Short courses or certificates in adjacent skills
• Government-subsidized training for displaced workers (check your local workforce agency)
• Employer-linked training with job placement support

Talk to people working in your target field before investing time and money. Make sure the market matches your expectations.

For detailed guidance, see how to upskill after a layoff.

Take Care of Yourself

Layoffs are stressful. Beyond the financial impact, losing a job you cared about is a real loss.

It's normal to feel: shock, anger, anxiety, grief, or relief. These emotions don't follow a predictable pattern.

What helps:

• Talk to someone (friend, family, former colleague, therapist)
• Maintain daily structure (wake time, getting dressed, exercise)
• Connect with other affected workers for mutual support
• Accept that some days will be more productive than others

Many regions have free or low-cost mental health resources. These services exist for situations like this.

How Yotru Can Help

If turning your Ubisoft experience into a clear, employer-ready resume feels overwhelming, Yotru's resume builder can help with that specific challenge. The tool is designed to help you articulate achievements, adapt your resume for different roles, and create ATS-friendly formatting.

It's not a replacement for networking, job searching, and taking care of yourself. But for the specific task of building a resume, it can reduce friction.

Moving Forward

Being laid off from Ubisoft is painful, especially if you loved the work or the team. But layoffs are survivable, and a structured approach improves your odds.

Small, consistent steps: file for unemployment, gather your documents, update your resume, reach out to your network. You don't have to solve everything this week.

Your next role is out there, whether in games or beyond.