Ubisoft RedLynx, the studio best known for the Trials series, has announced a restructuring proposal that could affect up to 60 positions.
Announced via the studio’s official site, RedLynx says the proposal is part of the company’s global efforts to “simplify, reduce costs, and ensure a stronger prioritization and efficiency across the company’s worldwide studio network.”
Before a decision is made, the studio is committed to sitting down with its staff in collective negotiations. The statement makes a point in clarifying that the negotiations primarily concern the production and administration teams, and they do not concern “the technology team working on Ubisoft’s Snowdrop game engine.”
Said negotiations are scheduled to begin on October 30 and are expected to conclude toward the end of November. If materialized, RedLynx said, the proposal would result in the “reduction of maximum 60 positions” at the studio.
An Ubisoft spokesperson informed Game Developer that the reduction in staff is “designed to optimize resources, leverage RedLynx’s distinctive expertise, and position the studio for long-term, sustainable success.”
RedLynx is seeking to focus on ‘small screens’
The statement follows by adding that, if implemented, the “proposed changes” would refocus RedLynx from a multiplatform setup to a “studio specialized in small screens.” According to the statement, this would enable RedLynx to position itself for sustainable success and optimize its resources “to best leverage the studio’s unique expertise.” It also mentions the studio is leading development on two unannounced mobile projects.
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“This proposal reflects difficult choices we may need to make, and it comes after careful consideration,” Ubisoft RedLynx managing director Celine Pasula says in the statement. “We recognize the weight of this announcement and want to acknowledge the impact this proposal may have on individuals and teams.”
The employees of RedLynx wouldn’t be the first staff members affected by redundancies under the Ubisoft umbrella this year. In January, the company closed its studio in Leamington UK and downsized others in Dusseldorf, Stockholm, and Newcastle. Those cuts were made months after Ubisoft scrapped live-service shooter XDefiant and closed its studios in Osaka and San Francisco.
Then, in July, the company confirmed it had laid off 19 workers at Ubisoft Red Storm. The news came mere months after Ubisoft established a new subsidiary in partnership with Tencent, which purchased a minority stake in the division for around $1.25 billion. Just last month, the company cut jobs primarily within its publishing team. In a statement, Ubisoft said the redundancies were part of “strategic structural decisions to ensure a smooth and swift launch” of the new Tencent-backed subsidiary.
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Update 10/22: This story has been updated with additional comment from Ubisoft.