Splinter Cell Remake Still On Despite Ubisoft Layoffs
▼ Summary
– Ubisoft has laid off 40 employees at its Toronto studio as part of a larger, ongoing corporate restructuring and cost-savings plan.
– The layoffs follow a major corporate shake-up that began last year after a $1.25 billion investment from Tencent, which led to shared control over key franchises.
– Despite the layoffs, Ubisoft confirmed that the long-announced Splinter Cell remake remains in active development at the Toronto studio.
– The company has discontinued multiple projects as part of this restructuring, including a Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake.
– Ubisoft Toronto will continue as a co-developer on projects like Rainbow Six and support other collaborative development mandates.
The highly anticipated Splinter Cell remake remains in active development at Ubisoft Toronto, despite a new round of layoffs at the studio. This news provides a measure of reassurance for fans who have been waiting for Sam Fisher’s return, especially following the cancellation of other projects within the company. Ubisoft has directly confirmed that the stealth-action title, first announced in 2021, is still moving forward even as the publisher undergoes significant corporate restructuring and cost-cutting measures.
These latest staff reductions are part of Ubisoft’s broader global savings initiative. The company confirmed that 40 roles were eliminated at its Toronto studio, which is known for its work on titles like Far Cry 6 and Watch Dogs. This decision follows a major corporate shake-up that began last year after a substantial investment from Tencent. That deal led to shared control over major franchises and a company-wide effort to streamline operations, which has included cancelling several games. The high-profile remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time was among the projects shelved earlier this year, casting a shadow of uncertainty over other long-in-development remakes.
In a statement provided to media, Ubisoft emphasized that the layoff decision was difficult and does not reflect on the skill of the affected employees. The company stated its commitment to supporting those impacted with severance packages and career assistance. Ubisoft Toronto will continue its work as a co-developer on ongoing projects such as Rainbow Six, maintaining what the company described as a “key contributor” role for several collaborative development mandates and live service teams.
While the official word is that the Splinter Cell project persists, the reduction in workforce naturally raises questions about its development timeline and scope. Creating a complex, modern remake with a smaller team presents undeniable challenges. The studio’s reassurances offer hope, but the fate of the Prince of Persia remake serves as a recent reminder of how quickly priorities can shift in the gaming industry. For now, fans can hold onto the confirmation that the project is still alive, even as its path forward navigates a more constrained corporate environment.
(Source: Kotaku)
