Ubisoft Barcelona Staff Strike in Response to Layoffs

Employees at Ubisoft Barcelona, the support studio for Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege, are set to strike throughout July in protest against significant layoffs. The staff plans to halt work every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from June 30 to July 17. Their demands include protections against future "collective dismissals" and the reinstatement of previously agreed-upon promotion packages.

Earlier this month, Ubisoft announced plans to eliminate as many as 380 positions as part of a broader restructuring effort., the restructuring will lead to a reduction in staff at Ubisoft Barcelona, which will be refocused on the Rainbow Six franchise. This shift comes amid a substantial €1.16 billion investment from Tencent into the company.

Historically, Ubisoft Barcelona has contributed to various projects as a support studio, including titles like Rayman Raving Rabbids, Star Trek: Bridge Crew, and several games in the Assassin's Creed and Tom Clancy's The Division series. They are also credited with the upcoming remake of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, scheduled for release in July.

The strike is being organized by La Confederación General del Trabajo, a Spanish labor union. They have disseminated information regarding the strike to various Spanish-language media outlets, with reports also emerging in the Anglosphere via Insider Gaming. In addition to advocating for those facing layoffs, the strike's organizers are pushing for the revival of a previously established internal promotion plan, protections against collective dismissals for at least five years, a return to a hybrid working model of 60/40, and a review of salary increases and workplace benefits.

Some of these demands have been longstanding, as unions representing Ubisoft Barcelona previously filed a lawsuit to challenge a return-to-office mandate in 2024. In light of recent corporate restructuring, Ubisoft employees have engaged in multiple rounds of industrial action.