Ubisoft said today it has opened a new studio in Quebec City, Canada. The new facility will employ 200 developers, artists, and engineers. By 2010, Ubisoft says it will expand the studio's staff to 1,000.

Ubisoft cites a large and growing talent pool as the main reason for its expansion in Quebec province (Ubisoft opened its Montreal studio in 1997). The company's biggest rival, Electronic Arts, has also taken notice of the brainpower in the local region, because in 2003, EA opened its own studio in Montreal.

The christening of this new Quebec City facility was attended by the city's mayor, Jean-Paul L'Allier, and other city representatives. "Quebec City is a recognized creative hub and [is] well-known for its academic institutions, both at the university and college level," said Martin Tremblay, president and COO of Ubisoft's Montreal studio. He said the investment in the province will reach $61 million over the next five years.

The Montreal studio of Ubisoft is responsible for producing a number of high-profile titles, including the Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell series and the two recent Prince of Persia games. It's unclear how upcoming work undertaken by the Ubisoft operation will be distributed between the two studios.