Ubisoft has confirmed that 40 employees at its Toronto studio are being let go as part of the company’s sweeping cost-reduction initiative, but maintains that the long-awaited Splinter Cell remake remains in active development. The cuts represent roughly eight percent of the studio’s workforce and follow a turbulent stretch for the French publisher, which has been aggressively restructuring its operations in a bid to slash €200 million in fixed costs over the next two years.
In a statement provided to Eurogamer and other outlets, a Ubisoft spokesperson stressed that the decision “was not taken lightly” and did not reflect the talent or contributions of the affected workers. The company said it would offer comprehensive severance packages and career placement support to those losing their jobs. Beyond the Splinter Cell project, Ubisoft Toronto will continue to serve as a co-development partner on Rainbow Six and other internal titles.
First announced in December 2021, the Splinter Cell remake is being built from the ground up using the Snowdrop engine — the same technology that powers The Division. Ubisoft has previously confirmed the game will stay true to the linear, stealth-focused design of the original rather than pivoting to an open-world format. Despite those early promises, the project has remained almost entirely under wraps for years, with no gameplay footage or release window ever shared publicly.
There have been small signs of life, however. As IGN reported, original creative director David Grivel returned to the project late last year after departing Ubisoft in 2022, offering a glimmer of hope that development is gaining momentum. Job listings have also indicated the studio plans to update the game’s narrative for a modern audience while aiming to attract new fans to the franchise.
The Toronto layoffs are the latest chapter in a broader upheaval at Ubisoft. Earlier this year, the publisher announced a sweeping reset that included the cancellation of six games — among them the repeatedly delayed Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake — the closure of its Stockholm and Halifax studios, and proposed cuts of up to 200 positions at its Paris headquarters. That restructuring, Rock Paper Shotgun notes, has been fueled in part by a significant investment from Tencent and has also introduced a new return-to-office policy that has drawn employee backlash and even strikes.
For fans of Sam Fisher’s night-vision exploits, the reassurance that the Splinter Cell remake survives another round of cuts will be welcome — if cautious. With no release date on the horizon and Ubisoft openly categorizing only a handful of franchises as potential “billionaire brands,” the project’s future, while officially secure for now, remains one to watch closely.