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Ubisoft Closes Casablanca Studio
Ubisoft has announced that it is closing its studio in Casablanca, Morocco. The company informed employees earlier last week, with operations ceasing on June 13.
Those affected have been offered transfers to one of Ubisoft’s 29 other studios or other assistance if they will be leaving the company. The Casablanca studio was in operation worked on Valiant Hearts, Child of Light, Rayman Fiesta Run, Rayman Legends, and a number of handheld games, including Rabbids 3D on 3DS and Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands on DS.
Ubisoft says it closed the studio to “increase efficiency and effectiveness of its cross-collaboration studio model.” The publisher is also under threat of hostile takeover from Vivendi, which recently seized control of Gameloft, which was founded by Ubisoft’s Guillemot family.
Our Take
With Casablanca having worked primarily on handheld games, it put the studio at risk. The Vita is nearly dead and Ubisoft doesn’t have a huge investment on 3DS. There are five other locations working exclusively on mobile games.
Closing a studio like this might not have been necessary without the Vivendi threat, but chances are that wasn’t the only reason. Our thoughts are with those impacted by the closure.
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