Ubisoft agrees to reconsider compensation for laid-off Halifax workers, amid union & public pressure

HALIFAX (Jan. 12, 2026) – After days of union pressure and public scrutiny over the sudden and damaging decision to close its Halifax operation, video gaming giant Ubisoft is now willing to consider increasing the compensation it offered 71 laid-off workers.

Ubisoft cited economic hardship when it announced the shutdown last week, just three weeks after CWA Canada was certified to represent about 60 staff. That made many people suggest the shutdown was aimed at keeping out the union.

CWA Canada has vowed to do everything legally possible to help its members, including filing a complaint with the provincial labour board if necessary.

Last week, union lawyers called Ubisoft demanding documents, emails and other information related to its claim that the closure decision was based solely on financial necessity.

The company initially offered a compensation of two months’ salary for everyone laid off. But after mounting anger, including over the fact that Ubisoft received $12 million in provincial money and tax credits, the company agreed today to meet with CWA Canada to discuss improving that compensation.

However, workers say what they really want are jobs. Many had relocated their families to Halifax and now feel stranded. The union maintains that a global mega-corporation like Ubisoft, which has offices in Toronto, Winnipeg, and four locations in Quebec, should be finding other jobs for its highly specialized workers.

“Ubisoft has more than 4,000 workers across Canada,” CWA Canada President Carmel Smyth said. “There is no reason it can’t find other work for everyone. If the office really is closing for economic hardship, why punish your workers?”

France-based Ubisoft is one of the world’s most successful game-developing companies, employing 17,000 people globally.

Ubisoft Halifax includes about 60 producers, programmers, designers, artists, researchers and development testers. They are part of CWA Canada Local 30111, which includes nearly 120 game workers at Bethesda Game Studios (BGS) in Montreal, and staff at the Montreal Gazette newspaper.

CWA Canada is the country’s only all-media union, representing 6,000 workers at the CBC, The Canadian Press, and newspapers, tech, digital media, video gaming, and other companies coast to coast.