You guys need to read this because it's a mess and the numbers are genuinely wild when you think about what they mean for those people. Ubisoft just cut 200 jobs at its Barcelona studio — we're talking 49 senior roles, 35 mid-level positions, and another 116 junior spots gone in one sweep. That is a massive chunk of the team to lose overnight with zero advance notice on individual terminations, which is exactly why the local union has stepped up. They filed an official complaint through STIJUG because Spanish law actually requires companies to consult and inform workers before mass layoffs, and Ubisoft seemingly bypassed that entirely. The sheer volume alone tells you something about how this was handled behind closed doors instead of transparently with the team.
The legal fight is even more specific than it sounds on the surface — 120 out of those 200 employees received layoff notices that didn't comply with mandatory prior consultation requirements, which opens up a separate dispute for mediation and arbitration. That means Ubisoft could face additional penalties if they don't rectify them promptly through formal legal channels. The union isn't just asking nicely; they filed an official complaint seeking to resolve the legality of these terminations on behalf of the affected staff before this escalates further in court. They want fairness where a big publisher opted for speed and secrecy instead, which is exactly what I'd expect from them after how their recent studio closures have played out elsewhere.
So here's what you should know if you follow any of these studios — Ubisoft Barcelona still has 148 employees remaining post-cut, but the culture shock from losing nearly a third of its workforce overnight will linger for years. The union is fighting for fair severance and legal compliance while the company defends its restructuring decisions as necessary business moves in a tightening industry. If you're interested in following this specific case through to arbitration or mediation, keep an eye on whether Ubisoft submits to official channels — that would be one small win against their refusal of earlier negotiation attempts. It is not just another layoff story; it's a failure of corporate process and the union fighting to recover what was lost from honest workers who did nothing wrong.
Source: https://www.ign.com/articles/below-any-reasonable-standard-assassins-creed-black-flag-resynced-developers-fighting-to-save-jobs-secure-fair-severance-pay-at-ubisoft-Barcelona
The legal fight is even more specific than it sounds on the surface — 120 out of those 200 employees received layoff notices that didn't comply with mandatory prior consultation requirements, which opens up a separate dispute for mediation and arbitration. That means Ubisoft could face additional penalties if they don't rectify them promptly through formal legal channels. The union isn't just asking nicely; they filed an official complaint seeking to resolve the legality of these terminations on behalf of the affected staff before this escalates further in court. They want fairness where a big publisher opted for speed and secrecy instead, which is exactly what I'd expect from them after how their recent studio closures have played out elsewhere.
So here's what you should know if you follow any of these studios — Ubisoft Barcelona still has 148 employees remaining post-cut, but the culture shock from losing nearly a third of its workforce overnight will linger for years. The union is fighting for fair severance and legal compliance while the company defends its restructuring decisions as necessary business moves in a tightening industry. If you're interested in following this specific case through to arbitration or mediation, keep an eye on whether Ubisoft submits to official channels — that would be one small win against their refusal of earlier negotiation attempts. It is not just another layoff story; it's a failure of corporate process and the union fighting to recover what was lost from honest workers who did nothing wrong.
Source: https://www.ign.com/articles/below-any-reasonable-standard-assassins-creed-black-flag-resynced-developers-fighting-to-save-jobs-secure-fair-severance-pay-at-ubisoft-Barcelona