Ubisoft celebrates Black Flag Resynced sales as studio strikes
Vantage Studios, a Ubisoft subsidiary, announced that Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced sold two million copies on its first day following its July 9 release. Meanwhile, Ubisoft Barcelona, the team reportedly responsible for the game’s underwater exploration mechanics and water technology, is striking over the proposed layoffs of 51 workers.
According to the announcement penned yesterday, the remake reached a peak of 99,451 concurrent players on Steam within 24 hours of launch, which is a new milestone for the Assassin’s Creed series on the platform.
“Black Flag has always held a special place in the heart of the community, and ours,” said Martin Schelling, head of Assassin’s Creed brand. “Bringing it back with Resynced was a promise to that passion for Edward’s adventures, and to the unique sense of freedom players experienced back then. Seeing so many players set sail on day one, along with the great reviews from critics, is the greatest reward we could have hoped for.”
However, the lead up to this so-called reward hasn’t been all smooth sailing. Ubisoft Barcelona initiated strikes on July 1st, which were set to last until July 17, running on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, after the notice that the company proposed to lay off 51 workers at the studio. The news came from a bulletin sent to local media, penned by Spanish union Confederación General del Trabajo (CSVI), which has been organizing the strikes.
Now, the studio has started a three-day strike, this time organized by the Coordinadora Sindical del Videojuego (CSVI) union. “Despite the game’s commercial success, 51 Ubisoft Barcelona workers will lose their jobs in the coming weeks,” a statement on the strike obtained by VGC said. “After an intense production, the company claims a ‘strategic shift’ to justify these layoffs.
The statement continues: “After years of dedication to our team, the company has turned its back on us. We will never see the fruits of our labor, and the reward for our hard work will be the loss of our jobs.”
Ubisoft responded to VGC’s request for comment, with a spokesperson saying the company is aware of the strike action announced at Ubisoft Barcelona and respects “employees’ right to express their views.”
Regarding the proposed structuring, Ubisoft says it is part of “broader efforts to reduce costs and focus resources on strategic priorities.” Under this proposal, the Barcelona studio would focus solely on Rainbow Six projects, which in turn may impact up to 51 employees.
“This remains a proposal, and no final decision will be made until the collective consultation process has concluded,” the statement to VGC concludes. “We are committed to constructive dialogue with employee representatives and to supporting employees throughout this period.”
Ubisoft announced a major restructuring program early this year, which was poised as a cost-reduction decision. The announcement was made shortly after the company secured a $1.25 billion investment from Tencent, which acquired a stake in Vantage Studios, one of Ubisoft’s new creative houses. Then, a number of French unions that include Ubisoft workers responded to the news by staging an international strike in February.
Since then, Ubisoft Toronto laid off 40 employees, Ubisoft subsidiary Red Storm ended game development and laid off 105 workers, and 93 roles in the San Francisco branch have been on the chopping block. The company also reported its net bookings were down 54 percent year-on-year in May.
“Ubisoft Barcelona did all the underwater levels,” tech and gameplay animator Manel Cota wrote on social media yesterday. “And that same team is being fired right now because Ubisoft thinks that’s what we deserve.”
