Developers Behind DJ Hero and Star Wars Outlaws Laid Off in Ubisoft Cuts

Ubisoft has laid off 185 employees following the closure of its Leamington studio, which contributed to major titles such as Star Wars Outlaws, Far Cry 5, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. Roughly 100 of the affected positions were from the company’s Blue Byte studios.

In a statement to Eurogamer, a Ubisoft spokesperson described the layoffs as part of broader cost-cutting measures. “We are prioritizing projects and reducing costs to ensure long-term stability at Ubisoft. We are deeply grateful for their contributions and are committed to supporting them through this transition,” the statement read.

The Leamington studio, formerly known as FreeStyleGames, gained recognition before its acquisition for developing the DJ Hero series. The closure of the studio marks the third shutdown for Ubisoft in five months, following its San Francisco and Osaka studios.

The layoffs reflect larger struggles at Ubisoft, which cut over 1,700 jobs in 2022 and faces ongoing challenges in restructuring. Rumors of a potential partnership with Tencent, a major player in the gaming industry, have surfaced, though it remains unclear whether a deal will be finalized.

Industry-wide, layoffs have become a troubling trend. According to the 2024 State of the Games Industry survey by the Game Developers Conference (GDC), 41% of developers reported being affected by layoffs last year, up from 35% in 2023.

Notably, indie studios have shown resilience. The same survey found that “smaller indie studios, where over half of developers are part of teams with fewer than 20 members, continued to hold their ground [in 2024].”