Ubisoft breaking ground in Toronto

Canadian government invests C$263 million in publisher's newest game-, film-oriented studio opening in late 2009; expects to hire 800 staff over next 10 years.

Ubisoft may be headquartered in France, but the publisher has made its name on the back of its Canadian studios. Easily the publisher's largest in-house studio, Ubisoft Montreal's recent credits include Prince of Persia, Far Cry 2, and Assassin's Creed II. (It is also working on Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction, which was shown off at last month's Electronic Entertainment Expo.) Montreal is also the home of Hybride Technologies, the special effects studio behind such films as Legendary Pictures' 300 and Ubisoft's vehicle for becoming "a full media company."

Ezio jumps for joy!

Today, Ubisoft announced that its Canadian presence would expand even further, announcing in conjunction with the Ontario government the formation of a new development studio in Toronto. With the help of a C$263 million ($226 million) investment by the Canadian government, Ubisoft plans to staff up the Toronto studio with some 800 employees over the next 10 years. Ubisoft Toronto expects to begin operations by late 2009.

Yannis Mallat, current CEO of Ubisoft Montreal, has been appointed to also head up Ubisoft Toronto. Speaking during a press conference announcing the studio's formation, Mallat noted that the new Toronto studio will be modeled after Ubisoft Montreal, and the two teams will collaborate on unspecified upcoming titles. Ubisoft Toronto will also play a role in Ubisoft's expansion into other entertainment media, including books, comics, and short films.

Ubisoft Toronto marks the fourth Ubisoft-owned development studio in Canada. In addition to Ubisoft Montreal, the publisher has studios in Quebec City and Vancouver and employs more than 2,300 developers in the United States' northern neighbor.

71 Comments

  • chappy_man

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 11:01 am PT

    looks good, growth in Ontario is a nice thing

  • jinzo9988

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 9:36 am PT

    Good news for me. I'm in Toronto and I just graduated as a programmer specializing in game development. I -don't- have to move to California to get a job at a big and reputable studio anymore. Not an immediate goal but something to look at for the future once I get my foot in the door of the game development industry... unless of course they have internship positions or whatever, then I'd be all over that ASAP.

  • Rudorlf

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 9:34 am PT

    Now who says America is the only country that made the best games in the world?

    And Ubisoft, keep up the good work!!!

  • NuKkU

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 8:43 am PT

    Go Ubisoft i really like them

  • SkidRow18

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:51 am PT

    Canada rocks

  • SWIFFT

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:45 am PT

    In the next ten years the entire game industry is going to move all studios to Canada because of the amazing tax breaks they are getting. And once all the business is happening in Canada, the tax breaks will disappear.

  • Inconnux

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:37 am PT

    @ Un4givingAsault lol I am Canadian, and there is nothing that unites Canada like the hatred of Toronto...

  • onthe_dl

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 6:57 am PT

    i know where my resume is going right after my last year of school

  • boogernator

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 5:29 am PT

    yay toronto

  • Excedra

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 4:08 am PT

    Oh my gosh UBISOFT ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • FLiPMaSTa1

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 3:57 am PT

    Moatatatareque, go to Sheridan Tech, they have the best art/animation courses in Ontario hands down.

  • moatartareque

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 2:51 am PT

    THANK GOD i am planning to be a concept artist in the future. right now im in grade ten and dont know what college to go to. and didnt know where to work at. i knew there was a rockstar toronto but that was it but thank god ubisoft is in my city IM DEF GONNA WORK THERE.

  • Genexi2

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 12:02 am PT

    About time a recognized studio makes a movement into my province. 3 more years of college and off I go to apply for character rigging and animating....

  • jamesh-42

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 11:57 pm PT

    Having a studio in Toronto probably makes it easier to bring in foreign specialists. If you are trying to get a work visa in Montreal, you'll need to show that you can speak French. To get the same visa in Toronto, you need to show you can speak either English or French. Either visa gives the right to work in either location.

  • firehawk998

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 10:48 pm PT

    In terms of gaming Canada makes some very fantastic games I hope situation will take gaming to new heights. I have been to Canada before a very beautiful country with good people, very beautiful enviroments and fantastic place to vacation there.

  • Un4givingAsault

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 10:28 pm PT

    @inconnux:

    Ya, all of Canada can be based off the performance of one hockey team. Canada is awesome and deal with it.

  • Inconnux posted Jul 6, 2009 9:43 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Inconnux

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 9:43 pm PT (hide)

    of all the places in Canada to goto why Toronto??? Welcome to the cesspool of Canada... and the hometown of the leafs.. could it be any worse?

  • Plo_Koon_basic

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 9:35 pm PT

    this is probably the sickest thing i've heard in a little while.

  • GhostfaceL94

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 9:11 pm PT

    Everythings going fantastic for Toronto. Raptors just got Turkoglu, Leafs signed buff defencemans, Argos won their first game, Jays are actually doing good. And now Ubi in T.O. One downside is the garbage strike X-(

  • 4163982838

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 8:00 pm PT

    Oh yeah! My home town T.O I'm real happy. When ever i pass by the studio i will salute the place!

  • NightRaVeN75

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 7:33 pm PT

    Sweet, a ubisoft studio in Toronto one of Canada's other major cities next to montreal and vancouver

  • funsohng

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 7:18 pm PT

    oh sweet, that's where my tax money went.

  • black_knight402

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 7:10 pm PT

    I love Canada.

    My Home For Ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • SPD_WeBmAsTaH

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 6:33 pm PT

    I jump for joy too.

  • leon_hitman_47

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 6:31 pm PT

    Good news. Maybe the company will benefit in this time of the economy.

  • abosh1

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 6:11 pm PT

    thats great! hopefully we get even more quality games out of them!

  • Glade_Gnarr

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 5:56 pm PT

    Great for Ubi but I bet we're going to see some annoyed tax payers.

  • Cerebyss

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 5:50 pm PT

    $263M... nice! T.O. T.O. T.O.

  • Nshadow23

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 5:38 pm PT

    Sick!

  • phil-_-meh

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 4:35 pm PT

    Ubisoft is French?! lol nv knew that
    Its sort of ashame they nv did put a studio in Canada's largest city b4, but its nice to know I can visit a Ubisoft studio near by

  • jmanversion1

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 4:17 pm PT

    hmmmm...maybe they might hire me as a character desing artist!!!

  • lemon360

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 3:45 pm PT

    maybe i'll work there

  • xxxTristamxxx

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 3:39 pm PT

    Go Toronto...I only live 20 minutes from T.O....Great news about the jobs.

  • robfield

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 3:34 pm PT

    Weird. With the economy today I figure companies will try to be as efficient as possible with what they have, and not try to have any new growth right now.

  • MassacreMonk

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 3:07 pm PT

    Next person to say T.O. is gonna get knocked out

  • sonictank

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 2:47 pm PT

    man im excited for AC2 ever since im playing AC 1.

  • rubber-chicken

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 2:42 pm PT

    Cool, I live in Toronto! maybe I can sneak in and check out how AC2 is going... Haha.

  • Kurzicide

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 2:33 pm PT

    It's great to see Ubisoft doing so well lately. I respect them much more than their competitors. Can't wait for AC2.

  • fenix0003

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 2:28 pm PT

    Awesome. More jobs = great news

  • RonTorque

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 2:27 pm PT

    I love Canada.

  • NICKKELANIUS

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 2:20 pm PT

    @alexLmx6
    lol thats what you get for living here, you get all four seasons lol

  • firedrakes

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 2:15 pm PT

    good for them. also new jobs

  • rohail88

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 2:15 pm PT

    I want AC 2 and AC Bloodlines!!...how about SONY Making a heavenly sword for psp??then i can keep nariko in my pants ...i mean pocket

  • alexLmx6

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 2:02 pm PT

    coool im going to humber for 3d modelling in the fall i wanna get away from toronto tho.. its too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer, hows that for picky?

  • taylormadederek

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 1:51 pm PT

    Well I was in Toronto today and it was 25 degrees Celsius. How is that for cold. I have some formal training in game design and art and animation. I am just finishing up a degree in Statistics and Economics and then I am applying for a game designer position at this studio. Buy my game b!tChe$

  • Zen_420

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 1:51 pm PT

    @speedfreak48t5p
    As a Canadian living in Hamilton, just outside of Toronto, I think most Canadians are aware of the games coming out of our Country and of anything Canadian made. We are proud of who we are, and proud of all things Canadian. @Decrate
    Too cold?? okay maybe in the winter, but have you ever been to Southern Ontario in the summer?? It is hot as hell brotha.

  • jacky531

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 1:47 pm PT

    Sweet! Go Canadians

  • scorpi13

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 1:46 pm PT

    To Decrate: It's not that cold up here really. you just have to get used to it. :-p

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