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Ubisoft Toronto

From Quire, the open reference·Canadian video game developer and Ubisoft studio·3 min read
Ubisoft Toronto Inc.
Ubisoft Toronto headquarters in March 2013
Ubisoft Toronto headquarters in March 2013 Image: source and license
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
FoundedSeptember 2010
FounderJade Raymond
Alexandre Parizeau
Maxime Béland
HeadquartersToronto ,
Canada
Key peopleDarryl Long (managing director)
Number of employees600 (2017)
ParentUbisoft
Websitetoronto.ubisoft.com
Working studio in Level 2
Working studio in Level 2 Image: source and license
Performance Capture Studio
Performance Capture Studio Image: source and license

Ubisoft Toronto Inc. is a Canadian video game developer and a studio of Ubisoft based in Toronto. The studio was established under Jade Raymond in September 2010. Games developed by Ubisoft Toronto include Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Far Cry 5, Starlink: Battle for Atlas, Far Cry 6, and Watch Dogs Legion.

History#edit

Ubisoft announced in July 2009 that it was establishing a Toronto-based development studio. Yannis Mallat, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Ubisoft Montreal, was to become Ubisoft Toronto's CEO, while the government of Ontario was to invest CA$263 million over a course of 10 years to create up to 800 jobs.[1][2] Unlike other Ubisoft studios, Ubisoft Toronto was immediately allowed to lead development of its games, whereas others start by only supporting larger studios like Ubisoft Montreal, though Ubisoft Toronto also served to support Montreal as part of its initial role as a sister studio.[3][4][5]

By September 2009, Jade Raymond was put in charge of establishing the studio.[2] Most of the studio's staff in its development phase, including Raymond, transferred to the new location from Ubisoft Montreal.[3] Key hires included producer Alexandre Parizeau and creative director Maxime Béland, who were brought on for the production of a new game in the Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell series, and were considered co-founders of the studio alongside Raymond.[6][7] A second, smaller development team for an undisclosed project was headed up by Lesley Phord-Toy, and Rima Brek was put in charge of the studio's internal Technology Group.[6][8] By May 2010, Ubisoft Toronto had received more than 2,000 job applications.[7]

Ubisoft Toronto's offices were established from a former General Electric building in the Junction Triangle neighborhood of Toronto.[5][3] Ubisoft Toronto began operating in late 2009 and formally opened in September 2010.[9][10]

By March 2012, Ubisoft Toronto had grown to 200 people, and to 300 by September 2013.[9][10] By the latter, the studio had received 30,000 applications and given 1,800 job interviews.[10] In September 2012, Ubisoft Toronto received an internal performance capture studio.[11] The studio's debut project, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist, was released in August 2013 to critical success.[4][10] Raymond left the studio and was succeeded as general manager by Parizeau.[12] By July 2015, Ubisoft Toronto was developing an original intellectual property (IP).[13] This game was later revealed to be Starlink: Battle for Atlas, an action-adventure game with optional toys-to-life integration.[14] The game was released in 2018 as the studio's first own IP.[15] As of July 2017, Ubisoft Toronto has 600 staff members.[16]

Near the end of June 2020 and into July 2020, a wave of accusations related to the MeToo movement swept through the video game industry, including several directed at some Ubisoft employees. Over one hundred employees of Ubisoft Toronto wrote to Parizeau in late June to report concerns related to sexual misconduct and the lack of action taken by management and human resources in response to their prior reports. Ubisoft announced it had investigated these reports, and in the case of Ubisoft Toronto, had requested studio co-founder Maxime Béland resign from the company. Speaking to Kotaku, some of these employees stated that there were still additional problems at the studio that went beyond Béland and they were still seeking signs of larger change from the studio and Ubisoft as a whole.[5] Parizeau left the company in February 2021 and was replaced by Istvan Tajnay, who had previously been the managing director for Ubisoft Berlin.[17]

In December 2021, it was announced that the studio was developing a remake of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell (2002); reports on the project appeared earlier in October.[18] After 2 years, Tajnay left the company in July of 2023 and was replaced by Darryl Long, who had previously been the managing director for Ubisoft Winnipeg and Ubisoft Singapore.[19]

In June 2024, it was announced that Ubisoft Toronto would assist Ubisoft Montreal in the development of the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake.[20] Later that month, 33 employees were let go as part of a "targeted realignment to ensure it can deliver on its ambitious roadmap."[21] The studio laid off 40 employees in February 2026.[22]

NEXT Competition#edit

Ubisoft Toronto NEXT (Formerly Ubisoft Toronto NXT Showcase) is an annual competition held by Ubisoft Toronto, aimed towards post secondary students and recent graduates.[23] The competition covers various job families and tasks students to complete a relevant submission that uses essential skills for the role, with the winner of each category being given an internship. As of the 2025 competition, 95 students have won internships at the studio.[23][24][25]

List of Past NEXT Winners
YearCategoryWinnerSchoolRef.
2018Model ArtArmand MechSheridan College[26]
2018Concept ArtDhenzel ObengMax The Mutt College[26]
2018AnimationDuke Alphonse SanchezDurham College[26]
2018ProgrammingWesley DucharmeNiagara College[26]
2019AnimationJacob LaFortuneGeorge Brown College[27]
2019Concept ArtDamir MuskenFanshawe College[27]
2019Level DesignNathan Powless-LynesSheridan College[27]
2019ModellingDylan James AbernethyDurham College[27]
2019ProgrammingJack SnopekMcMaster University[27]
2019User InterfaceKogulan SivaneshanUniversity of Toronto[27]
20203D ArtDong-Hoon ChoiCentennial College[28]
2020AnimationBruno Sampaio Leme DiasGeorge Brown College[28]
2020Concept ArtDavid MattiacciToronto Film School[28]
2020Level DesignSukhraj JohalSheridan College[28]
2020ProgrammingJacob PratleyOntario Tech University[28]
2020Technical ArtMohamad SalameDurham College[28]
2020User InterfaceShane SaxtonNiagara College[28]
20213D ArtMaria KniazievaCentennial College[29]
2021Concept ArtSergi IranzoMax The Mutt College[29]
2021Technical ArtJessica LeOntario Tech University[29]
2021Cinematic AnimationYourim KimCentennial College[29]
2021Gameplay AnimationLavio Ribeiro Fidelis NetoMohawk College[29]
2021Level DesignDavid De La Peña FrigoletSheridan College[29]
2021ProgrammingRob SavaglioOntario Tech University[29]
20223D ArtRyan HoneyDurham College[30]
2022AnimationYuxing WangSheridan College[30]
2022ProgrammingVictor ShiWestern University[30]
2022Level DesignCamila KukulskiSheridan College[30]
2022Technical ArtYuan ChenWestern University[30]
2022Concept ArtJackson Kachun SoGeorge Brown College[30]
20233D ArtMelissa FriesenDurham College[23]
2023AnimationXiangyu ChenSheridan College[23]
2023Concept ArtAbhishek Arabind DasGeorge Brown College[23]
2023Game DesignJunsu JangSheridan College[23]
2023Level DesignKen StevensSheridan College[23]
2023ProgrammingBijia ZhaoToronto Metropolitan University[23]
2023UX DesignJay LeeUniversity of Waterloo[23]
20243D ArtYueran (Cassandra) ZhouSheridan College[24]
2024AnimationJonathan ChenSheridan College[24]
2024Concept ArtQiushi JinSheridan College[24]
2024Game DesignTiago MassochinSheridan College[24]
2024Level DesignChris Russell ShantzSheridan College[24]
2024ProgrammingShaelynn Keiko CurranUniversity of Toronto[24]
2024Technical ArtJiahui HuYork University[24]
20253D ArtAnya Ng-CheeCentennial College[25]
2025AnimationDaylan BelseyDurham College[25]
2025Concept ArtGabriel FuentesGeorge Brown College[25]
2025Event ScriptingYun Yin (Joyce) LinSheridan College[25]
2025Level DesignCalvin IpSheridan College[25]
2025ProgrammingRamy ZhangUniversity of Toronto[25]
2025Technical AnimationMarcus Angelo SantosCarleton University[25]
2025Technical ArtAlexandro Di NunzioYork University[25]
2025VFXReyhan IsmailYork University[25]

Games developed#edit

Lead developer#edit

YearTitlePlatform(s)NotesRef.
2013Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: BlacklistPlayStation 3, Wii U, Windows, Xbox 360—N/a[4]
2018Far Cry 5PlayStation 4, Stadia, Windows, Xbox OneDeveloped in collaboration with Ubisoft Montreal[31]
Starlink: Battle for AtlasNintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One—N/a[14]
2020Watch Dogs: LegionPlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Stadia, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/SAlso developed the expansion pack Bloodline (2021)[32][33]
2021Far Cry 6Also developed the expansion pack Lost Between Worlds (2022)[34][35]
TBATom Clancy's Splinter Cell: RemakeTBAA remake of the 2002 video game of the same name[18]

Supportive development#edit

YearTitlePlatform(s)NotesRef.
2014Assassin's Creed UnityPlayStation 4, Stadia, Windows, Xbox OneSupportive development for Ubisoft Montreal[36]
Far Cry 4PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One[37]
2016Far Cry PrimalPlayStation 4, Stadia, Windows, Xbox One[38]
Watch Dogs 2[39]
2017For HonorPlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One[40]
2022Mario + Rabbids Sparks of HopeNintendo SwitchSupportive development for Ubisoft Milan and Ubisoft Paris[41]
2023The Crew MotorfestPlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/SSupportive development for Ubisoft Ivory Tower[42]
Avatar: Frontiers of PandoraPlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/SSupportive development for Massive Entertainment[39]
2024XDefiantSupportive development for Ubisoft San Francisco[43]
Star Wars OutlawsSupportive development for Massive Entertainment[44]

References#edit

  1. ^ Fahey, Mike (6 July 2009). "Ubisoft Toronto Brings 800 Jobs To Ontario". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  2. ^ a b Thorsen, Tor (1 September 2009). "Jade Raymond heading up Ubisoft Toronto". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Kumar, Mathew (25 May 2010). "Building On Conviction: Inside Ubisoft Toronto, Page 1 of 4". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 29 August 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  4. ^ a b c Dyer, Mitch (4 September 2013). "The Rise of Ubisoft Toronto: How a New Team Nailed its AAA Debut". IGN. Archived from the original on 29 August 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  5. ^ a b c Gach, Ethan (6 July 2020). "Ubisoft Employees Have 'Grave Concerns' Over Toronto Studio's Misconduct Allegations". Kotaku. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
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  7. ^ a b Kumar, Mathew (25 May 2010). "Building On Conviction: Inside Ubisoft Toronto, Page 3 of 4". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 29 August 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
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  9. ^ a b Weber, Rachel (8 March 2017). "Jade's Empire: Building Ubisoft's Super-Studio". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 29 August 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  10. ^ a b c d Sinclair, Brendan (6 September 2013). "How to build a AAA studio". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
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  12. ^ Crecente, Brian (20 October 2014). "Ubisoft Toronto managing director Jade Raymond leaves company". Polygon. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
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  19. ^ "Ubisoft appoints veteran managing directors for Toronto and Montpellier studios".
  20. ^ Moon, Mariella (4 June 2024). "Ubisoft Toronto is helping out with the troubled Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake". Engadget. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  21. ^ Chalk, Andy (28 June 2024). "Less than a month after joining work on the Sands of Time remake, Ubisoft Toronto lays off 33 employees 'to ensure it can deliver on its ambitious roadmap'". PC Gamer. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  22. ^ McEvoy, Sophie (20 February 2026). "Ubisoft Toronto hit by layoffs, 40 staff impacted". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i Mehta, Mannat (12 May 2023). "Ubisoft Toronto NEXT 2023 Winners — Celebrating 10 Years of Supporting Student Talent in Ontario - Ubisoft Toronto". Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h Chong, Erica (28 March 2024). "Ubisoft Toronto NEXT 2024 Winners — Celebrating Ontario's Student Talent in Game Dev - Ubisoft Toronto". Retrieved 18 April 2025.
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  26. ^ a b c d administrator (16 May 2018). "Congratulations to the 2018 NXT Showcase winners! - Ubisoft Toronto". Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  27. ^ a b c d e f administrator (9 May 2019). "The 2019 Ubisoft Toronto NEXT winners! - Ubisoft Toronto". Retrieved 18 April 2025.
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Categories 2010 establishments in OntarioCanadian companies established in 2010Canadian subsidiaries of foreign companiesCompanies based in TorontoUbisoft divisions and subsidiariesVideo game companies based in OntarioVideo game companies established in 2010Video game development companies

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