Ubisoft has officially closed its Leamington Spa studio, ending its operations after a confirmation in January regarding the shutdown. This studio, originally founded in 2002 as FreeStyleGames, was the oldest in the Leamington area and one of the most prominent in the UK game development scene.
History of FreeStyleGames
FreeStyleGames started as an independent developer before being acquired by Activision in 2008. During its tenure, it was instrumental in creating the DJ Hero series and Guitar Hero Live. In 2017, Ubisoft took over the studio, transitioning it to primarily support various major Ubisoft franchises, including Tom Clancy games, Far Cry, and the recent release, Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Closure Announcement
The final closure was announced through a post on the studio’s LinkedIn page, which will be integrated with Ubisoft Reflections. The message expressed gratitude towards their talented team for their contributions to the gaming community in Leamington. The post highlighted the lasting impact of their creativity and passion.
Impact on Employees
The closure has resulted in the loss of approximately 100 jobs, with reports indicating the team was working on an unannounced intellectual property before the shutdown. This project represented a shift for the studio, as it would have marked the first time they led development on a title rather than providing support.
Future Presence
Despite the closure, some team members will remain in the area and continue to participate in local industry events; however, they will no longer operate from the historic studio building that has housed many talented developers over the past two decades.