Ethan Crossfield 
Ubisoft Barcelona is facing a fresh wave of labor conflict after workers began a strike to protest planned layoffs of 51 employees—just days after Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced launched to strong early momentum. The timing is fueling frustration inside the studio and raising broader questions about how success affects (or fails to affect) job security in game development.
What happened
According to an update shared with Game Informer by a Ubisoft Barcelona employee affected by the proposed cuts, the studio’s workers launched a strike through Thursday, July 16, following a report that Ubisoft planned to lay off 51 employees in the coming weeks. The strike is being organized with the Coordinadora Sindical del Videojuego union (CSVI), which is attempting to negotiate with Ubisoft over the layoffs.
The employee claims that roughly 90 people gathered outside Ubisoft Barcelona during the rally, but says the company is still presenting what they describe as an unacceptable proposal. They also announced plans to hold another rally on Thursday during the next wave of negotiations, starting at 10:30 am.
CSVI’s demands, as described in the original reporting, include canceling the proposed layoffs, restoring a previously used 60% remote-work policy, granting promotions and raises Ubisoft had promised, and improving job security. The union also pointed to a broader pattern: Ubisoft workers previously struck in February of last year after more than 500 layoffs across Ubisoft studios and the closure of three development studios.
The same Ubisoft Barcelona employee connected the dispute to the studio’s role in the newly released remake, emphasizing that the team delivered underwater exploration and related systems under tight staffing. They state the work was completed in roughly two and a half years with fewer than 50 people.
Why it matters
The conflict is landing immediately after Black Flag Resynced’s early success. Ubisoft reported that the remake sold 2 million copies within one day of launch on July 9. The company also highlighted strong early audience activity, including a top ranking on Twitch on launch day and a peak of 99,451 concurrent players on Steam within 24 hours—figures Ubisoft said were the highest for an Assassin’s Creed title on the platform.
Yet the employee’s account suggests that, despite that performance, Ubisoft’s plans still target the Barcelona team. They further claim Ubisoft has made it clear the studio should not work on any new Assassin’s Creed projects, implying that the only path to future involvement in the franchise would be pressure from the community. They contrast the studio’s situation with other Ubisoft output by suggesting that, without changes, the Barcelona team could be limited to supporting other series rather than contributing to future Assassin’s Creed entries.
In the employee’s description of what Ubisoft Barcelona handled in Resynced, the workload includes underwater shipwreck exploration and multiple underwater systems—ranging from swimming and underwater mechanics to biomes, animal behavior, underwater wrecks, and smuggler dens. They also list content areas and quest work, including main quests, Assassin contracts, naval contracts, and specific regions and locations tied to the remake’s setting.
What to watch next
The immediate focus is the next round of negotiations during the strike window, alongside the planned Thursday rally at 10:30 am. For players and observers, the key question is whether CSVI can secure concrete changes to the proposed layoffs and related employment terms.
More broadly, the situation is likely to be closely watched by other studios and developers in the industry. Even with a high-performing release, this case underscores how staffing decisions can be decoupled from launch metrics—at least in the short term.
Practical takeaways
- If you’re following Ubisoft labor news, track the strike’s next scheduled rally on Thursday at 10:30 am during negotiations.
- Black Flag Resynced’s early sales and player activity don’t automatically protect studio jobs—this dispute shows how quickly layoffs can still follow success.
- CSVI’s stated demands go beyond layoffs cancellation, including remote-work policy restoration, promised promotions/raises, and stronger job security.
- Ubisoft Barcelona workers say their Resynced underwater content was produced with fewer than 50 people over about two and a half years—expect questions about staffing and production planning.
Expert View
This is the kind of labor story that hits harder precisely because the release appears to have worked. Black Flag Resynced’s early momentum makes the proposed cuts feel less like a business necessity and more like a structural decision—one that places studio teams in a no-win position. For players, the takeaway is uncomfortable but clear: commercial wins may not translate into employment stability, so community attention and negotiation outcomes matter as much as review scores.
