Ubisoft Toronto

Ubisoft Toronto is a Canadian video-game development studio and a production unit of Ubisoft Entertainment. Based in Toronto, Ontario, it was created as part of Ubisoft's expansion in Canada and formally opened in September 2010. The studio's establishment followed Ubisoft's 2009 announcement of a Toronto development operation and was supported by a proposed investment from the Government of Ontario intended to help create as many as 800 jobs over a ten-year period. Unlike a conventional satellite studio that initially performs only support work, Ubisoft Toronto was designed to lead projects relatively early in its existence, while also collaborating with Ubisoft Montreal and other Ubisoft teams. The studio was organized under Jade Raymond, who had previously worked at Ubisoft Montreal. Several personnel transferred from Montreal during the formation period, including producer Alexandre Parizeau and creative director Maxime Béland. Yannis Mallat, then associated with Ubisoft Montreal's management, was initially announced as the studio's chief executive, while Raymond led the practical establishment of the Toronto operation. The office was located in a converted former General Electric facility in Toronto's Junction Triangle neighbourhood. Growth was rapid: the studio reached approximately 200 employees by 2012, around 300 by 2013, and approximately 600 by 2017, according to published accounts. Ubisoft Toronto's first major production was Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist, released in 2013. The title established the studio as a lead developer within Ubisoft's global production network and received generally positive critical attention. After Raymond departed, Parizeau became the studio's general manager. The team subsequently contributed to or supported several large Ubisoft releases, including Far Cry 5, Starlink: Battle for Atlas, Far Cry 6 and Watch Dogs: Legion. Its work has covered design, engineering, art, production and technology rather than being limited to a single franchise or platform. Starlink: Battle for Atlas, released in 2018, was especially significant because it represented Ubisoft Toronto's first original intellectual property. The action-adventure title combined space exploration and combat with an optional physical toys-to-life component. Although the commercial performance of the toys-to-life model was challenging, the project demonstrated the studio's ability to develop a complete Ubisoft property rather than only contribute to an established series. The studio has also been associated with major franchise redevelopment. Ubisoft announced in 2021 that Ubisoft Toronto was leading development of a remake of the 2002 game Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell. In 2024, Ubisoft Toronto was announced as a support studio for Ubisoft Montreal on the remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. These projects placed the studio within Ubisoft's broader strategy of revisiting established properties while continuing work across its production portfolio. Ubisoft Toronto has faced organizational and workforce changes. In 2020, allegations concerning sexual misconduct and management responses formed part of a wider crisis affecting Ubisoft. More than 100 Toronto employees reportedly communicated concerns to studio management. Ubisoft said it investigated the reports and requested the resignation of co-founder Maxime Béland. The studio later changed leadership, with Alexandre Parizeau leaving in 2021, Istvan Tajnay taking over, and Darryl Long becoming managing director in 2023. The company also announced a targeted workforce realignment in 2024, resulting in 33 job losses, while a further reduction reported for 2026 affected 40 employees. Ubisoft Toronto remains an active Ubisoft development studio, combining original production, franchise leadership and collaborative support for projects developed across the Ubisoft network.

Ubisoft's Toronto expansion was announced in July 2009 as part of the company's effort to increase its Canadian development capacity. The planned studio was associated with Ubisoft Montreal leadership and a proposed investment by the Government of Ontario of CA$263 million over ten years, with the stated objective of creating up to 800 jobs. The Toronto operation was intended to be more than a support unit: Ubisoft gave it the ability to lead game development while maintaining close collaboration with Ubisoft Montreal. Jade Raymond was assigned to establish the studio in 2009. Much of the early team came from Ubisoft Montreal, including producer Alexandre Parizeau and creative director Maxime Béland. A separate smaller team was led by Lesley Phord-Toy, while Rima Brek managed an internal technology group. Recruitment was substantial; the studio reported receiving more than 2,000 applications by May 2010. Its offices were created in a former General Electric building in Toronto's Junction Triangle area. The studio began operating during the late-2009 formation period and formally opened in September 2010. The organization expanded quickly. It had approximately 200 employees by March 2012 and 300 by September 2013. During that period it also developed significant production infrastructure, including an internal performance-capture facility established in 2012. The first major project was Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist, which Toronto led with support from other Ubisoft teams. Released in August 2013, the game became the studio's first public demonstration of its ability to manage a major Ubisoft franchise. Raymond later left Ubisoft Toronto, and Alexandre Parizeau became general manager. By the middle of the 2010s, the studio was working across several Ubisoft properties and was also developing an original project. That project was eventually identified as Starlink: Battle for Atlas, an action-adventure game set in space that incorporated optional physical toys. Released in 2018, it was Ubisoft Toronto's first original intellectual property. The studio also contributed to Far Cry 5, supported Starlink's wider production, and later worked on Far Cry 6 and Watch Dogs: Legion. Published accounts placed staffing at approximately 600 people in 2017, illustrating the scale reached during its expansion. In 2020, Ubisoft Toronto became part of the wider misconduct controversy affecting Ubisoft and the video-game industry. More than 100 employees reportedly wrote to Alexandre Parizeau about allegations of sexual misconduct and concerns that earlier complaints had not received adequate action from management or human resources. Ubisoft stated that it investigated the reports and requested the resignation of co-founder Maxime Béland. Public accounts also indicated that some employees believed the underlying issues extended beyond one individual and sought broader organizational change. Parizeau left Ubisoft in February 2021 and was replaced by Istvan Tajnay, formerly associated with Ubisoft Berlin. In December 2021, Ubisoft announced that Toronto was developing a remake of the 2002 Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell; reports about the project had circulated earlier that year. Tajnay left the company in July 2023, after which Darryl Long, previously associated with Ubisoft Winnipeg and Ubisoft Singapore, became managing director. In June 2024, Ubisoft announced that Toronto would assist Ubisoft Montreal on the remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. That month, the studio also announced a targeted realignment affecting 33 employees. A further reduction affecting 40 employees was reported for February 2026. Beyond game production, Ubisoft Toronto operates Ubisoft Toronto NEXT, an annual competition for post-secondary students and recent graduates. The program asks entrants to complete role-specific development submissions, with category winners receiving internships. By the 2025 competition, the program had produced 95 internship winners. Ubisoft Toronto therefore functions both as a game-production center and as a recruitment and training hub within Ubisoft's Canadian and international development structure.

• 2025

  Ubisoft Toronto NEXT reaches 95 internship winners

  [1]Ubisoft Torontoen.wikipedia.org

  The studio's student competition had provided internships to 95 winners by the 2025 edition.

• 2024

  Prince of Persia support announced

  [1]Ubisoft Torontoen.wikipedia.org

  Toronto was announced as a support studio for Ubisoft Montreal's remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.

• 2021

  Splinter Cell remake announced

  [1]Ubisoft Torontoen.wikipedia.org

  Ubisoft announced that Ubisoft Toronto would lead development of a remake of the original Splinter Cell.

• 2018

  Starlink: Battle for Atlas released

  [1]Ubisoft Torontoen.wikipedia.org

  Ubisoft Toronto released its first original intellectual property, an action-adventure game featuring optional toys-to-life integration.

• 2013

  Splinter Cell: Blacklist released

  [1]Ubisoft Torontoen.wikipedia.org

  The studio's debut major production, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist, was released.

• 2012

  Performance-capture facility added

  [1]Ubisoft Torontoen.wikipedia.org

  The studio received an internal performance-capture facility as its production capabilities expanded.

• 2010

  Formal opening

  [1]Ubisoft Torontoen.wikipedia.org

  Ubisoft Toronto formally opened in September after a formation period led by Jade Raymond and staff recruited largely from Ubisoft Montreal.

• 2009

  Toronto studio announced

  [1]Ubisoft Torontoen.wikipedia.org

  Ubisoft announced plans for a Toronto development studio, supported by a proposed Ontario investment intended to expand employment and production capacity.

A large-scale Ubisoft production studio combining lead development of major franchises, original game creation and technical or content support for Ubisoft's international development network.

• Stealth action video game · 2013

  Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist

  Ubisoft Toronto's debut major production and a lead-developed entry in Ubisoft's Splinter Cell franchise. The game combines stealth, tactical action and mission-based progression and was released in 2013 for several home and personal-computer platforms.

• Action-adventure video game · 2018

  Starlink: Battle for Atlas

  Ubisoft Toronto's first original intellectual property. It is a space-based action-adventure game built around exploration, spacecraft customization and combat, with optional physical toys that could be used to alter in-game equipment and characters.

• Open-world action game · 2018

  Far Cry 5

  A Ubisoft open-world action title to which Ubisoft Toronto contributed development support. The game is set in a fictionalized Montana environment and forms part of the studio's broader work across Ubisoft's large-scale franchise portfolio.

• Open-world action game · 2021

  Far Cry 6

  A major Far Cry production supported by Ubisoft Toronto. The game uses an open-world setting and combines exploration, shooting, character progression and narrative missions within Ubisoft's established franchise framework.

• Open-world action-adventure game · 2020

  Watch Dogs: Legion

  Ubisoft Toronto contributed to this open-world Watch Dogs title, which features a near-future London setting and a system allowing players to recruit and control multiple characters. It reflects the studio's role as a contributor to large international Ubisoft productions.

• Stealth action video game

  Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell remake

  A remake of the original 2002 Splinter Cell announced in 2021 and assigned to Ubisoft Toronto. The project revisits the franchise's stealth-focused foundation using contemporary development technology. A release date was not specified in the cited reference material.

• Action-adventure video game

  Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake

  Ubisoft Toronto was announced in 2024 as a support studio assisting Ubisoft Montreal with the remake. The Toronto team is therefore involved as part of a distributed Ubisoft production rather than as the sole developer.

• 2020

  Misconduct allegations and employee complaints

  During the wider 2020 misconduct crisis affecting Ubisoft and the video-game industry, more than 100 Ubisoft Toronto employees reportedly raised concerns about sexual misconduct and alleged shortcomings in management and human-resources responses. Ubisoft said it investigated the reports and requested the resignation of co-founder Maxime Béland. Some employees said broader organizational problems remained and called for more extensive change.

  Source

Read more

• Ubisoft Toronto NEXT

  Canada · Global applicants

  An annual competition for post-secondary students and recent graduates. Entrants complete a submission related to a development job family, such as a role-specific creative or technical task.

  Outcome. Winners in each category receive internships at Ubisoft Toronto. By the 2025 competition, 95 students had won internships through the program.

  Source

• 2024

  Support the Prince of Persia remakeStrategy

  Background

  Ubisoft distributed production responsibilities across its studios for the remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.

  Action taken

  Ubisoft Toronto was assigned to assist Ubisoft Montreal on the project.

  Aftermath

  The assignment reinforced Toronto's role as both a lead developer and a support studio within Ubisoft's international network.

  Source

• 2024

  Targeted workforce realignmentStrategy

  Background

  Ubisoft said a workforce adjustment was necessary to align the studio with its development roadmap.

  Action taken

  The studio announced that 33 employees were let go as part of a targeted realignment.

  Aftermath

  Ubisoft Toronto continued work on its announced projects, but the cited material does not provide additional operational or financial details.

  Source

• 2021

  Remake the original Splinter CellGeneration change

  Background

  Ubisoft chose to revisit the 2002 Splinter Cell game as part of its strategy of developing new versions of established properties.

  Action taken

  Ubisoft assigned Ubisoft Toronto to develop the remake, announced in December 2021.

  Aftermath

  The project remained in development in the cited material, with no confirmed release date provided.

  Source

• 2018

  Launch an original Toronto-led intellectual propertyProduct launch

  Background

  After contributing to established Ubisoft franchises, the studio pursued a project that would demonstrate its ability to create and lead an original property.

  Action taken

  Ubisoft Toronto developed and launched Starlink: Battle for Atlas, combining space exploration with optional toys-to-life features.

  Aftermath

  The game became the studio's first original IP, although the reference material does not provide verified financial performance figures.

  Source

• 2009

  Establish a lead-capable Toronto studioStrategy

  Background

  Ubisoft sought to expand its Canadian development footprint while creating a studio that could lead projects rather than serving only as a support team.

  Action taken

  The company announced the Toronto studio and structured it with early lead-development responsibility alongside collaboration with Ubisoft Montreal.

  Aftermath

  The studio grew into a major Ubisoft production site and led Splinter Cell: Blacklist and Starlink: Battle for Atlas.

  Proposed Ontario government investment. CA$263 million (Ten years from the 2009 announcement)

  Source

• 2021.02.03

  Reported2021.02.03

  Ubisoft Toronto appoints a managing director after predecessor's departure[3]育碧多伦多工作室在前任离职后任命新总经理gamesindustry.biz

  Ubisoft appointed Istvan Tajnay as managing director of its Toronto studio after Alexandre Parizeau's departure; Parizeau transferred his responsibilities to Tajnay.

Read more

1. 1Ubisoft Torontoen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Ubisoft Toronto official studio pageubisoft.com
3. 3育碧多伦多工作室在前任离职后任命新总经理gamesindustry.biz