Ubisoft Toronto
{{Short description|Canadian video game developer and Ubisoft studio}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Ubisoft Toronto Inc.
| logo = File:Ubisoft Toronto.png
| image = Ubisoft Toronto - 2013.jpg
| image_caption = Ubisoft Toronto headquarters in March 2013
| type = Subsidiary
| industry = Video games
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2010|09}}
| founder = {{Unbulleted list|Jade Raymond|Alexandre Parizeau|Maxime Béland}}
| hq_location_city = Toronto
| hq_location_country = Canada
| key_people = Darryl Long (managing director)
| num_employees = 600
| num_employees_year = 2017
| parent = Ubisoft
| website = {{URL|https://toronto.ubisoft.com/}}
}}
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
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|link=yes}} over a course of 10 years to create up to 800 jobs.{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/5308480/ubisoft-toronto-brings-800-jobs-to-ontario |title=Ubisoft Toronto Brings 800 Jobs To Ontario |first=Mike |last=Fahey |date=6 July 2009 |website=Kotaku |access-date=12 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313031646/https://kotaku.com/5308480/ubisoft-toronto-brings-800-jobs-to-ontario |archive-date=13 March 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/jade-raymond-heading-up-ubisoft-toronto/1100-6216552/ |title=Jade Raymond heading up Ubisoft Toronto |first=Tor |last=Thorsen |date=1 September 2009 |website=GameSpot |access-date=29 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702011118/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/jade-raymond-heading-up-ubisoft-toronto/1100-6216552/ |archive-date=2 July 2018 |url-status=live }} 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/09/04/the-rise-of-ubisoft-toronto-how-a-new-team-nailed-its-aaa-debut |title=The Rise of Ubisoft Toronto: How a New Team Nailed its AAA Debut |first=Mitch |last=Dyer |date=4 September 2013 |website=IGN |access-date=31 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829214012/https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/09/04/the-rise-of-ubisoft-toronto-how-a-new-team-nailed-its-aaa-debut |archive-date=29 August 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web | url = https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-employees-have-grave-concerns-over-toronto-stud-1844277486 | title = Ubisoft Employees Have 'Grave Concerns' Over Toronto Studio's Misconduct Allegations | first = Ethan | last = Gach | date = July 6, 2020 | access-date = July 6, 2020 | work = Kotaku }}
By September 2009, Jade Raymond was put in charge of establishing the studio. Most of the studio's staff in its development phase, including Raymond, transferred to the new location from Ubisoft Montreal. 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.{{cite web |url=https://gamasutra.com/view/feature/133617/building_on_conviction_inside_.php?page=2 |title=Building On Conviction: Inside Ubisoft Toronto, Page 2 of 4 |first=Mathew |last=Kumar |date=25 May 2010 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=31 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829214020/https://gamasutra.com/view/feature/133617/building_on_conviction_inside_.php?page=2 |archive-date=29 August 2019 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=https://gamasutra.com/view/feature/133617/building_on_conviction_inside_.php?page=3 |title=Building On Conviction: Inside Ubisoft Toronto, Page 3 of 4 |first=Mathew |last=Kumar |date=25 May 2010 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=31 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829214020/https://gamasutra.com/view/feature/133617/building_on_conviction_inside_.php?page=3 |archive-date=29 August 2019 |url-status=dead }} 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.{{cite web |url=https://gamasutra.com/view/feature/133617/building_on_conviction_inside_.php?page=4 |title=Building On Conviction: Inside Ubisoft Toronto, Page 4 of 4 |first=Mathew |last=Kumar |date=25 May 2010 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=31 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829214022/https://gamasutra.com/view/feature/133617/building_on_conviction_inside_.php?page=4 |archive-date=29 August 2019 |url-status=dead }} By May 2010, Ubisoft Toronto had received more than 2,000 job applications.
Ubisoft Toronto's offices were established from a former General Electric building in the Junction Triangle neighborhood of Toronto.{{cite web |url=https://gamasutra.com/view/feature/133617/building_on_conviction_inside_.php |title=Building On Conviction: Inside Ubisoft Toronto, Page 1 of 4 |first=Mathew |last=Kumar |date=25 May 2010 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=31 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829214009/https://gamasutra.com/view/feature/133617/building_on_conviction_inside_.php |archive-date=29 August 2019 |url-status=dead }} Ubisoft Toronto began operating in late 2009 and formally opened in September 2010.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-03-08-gdc-jade-empire-building-ubi-super-studio |title=Jade's Empire: Building Ubisoft's Super-Studio |first=Rachel |last=Weber |date=8 March 2017 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |access-date=31 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829214008/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-03-08-gdc-jade-empire-building-ubi-super-studio |archive-date=29 August 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-09-06-how-to-build-a-aaa-studio |title=How to build a AAA studio |first=Brendan |last=Sinclair |date=6 September 2013 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |access-date=29 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410214642/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-09-06-how-to-build-a-aaa-studio |archive-date=10 April 2019 |url-status=live }}
By March 2012, Ubisoft Toronto had grown to 200 people, and to 300 by September 2013. By the latter, the studio had received 30,000 applications and given 1,800 job interviews. In September 2012, Ubisoft Toronto received an internal performance capture studio.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/09/14/ubisoft-opens-new-performance-capture-studio |title=Ubisoft Opens New Performance Capture Studio |first=Andrew |last=Goldfarb |date=14 September 2012 |website=IGN |access-date=31 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829214010/https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/09/14/ubisoft-opens-new-performance-capture-studio |archive-date=29 August 2019 |url-status=live }} The studio's debut project, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist, was released in August 2013 to critical success. Raymond left the studio and was succeeded as general manager by Parizeau.{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2014/10/20/7016823/jade-raymond-leaves |title=Ubisoft Toronto managing director Jade Raymond leaves company |first=Brian |last=Crecente |date=20 October 2014 |website=Polygon |access-date=31 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412111555/https://www.polygon.com/2014/10/20/7016823/jade-raymond-leaves |archive-date=12 April 2019 |url-status=live }} By July 2015, Ubisoft Toronto was developing an original intellectual property (IP).{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/07/14/ubisoft-toronto-is-working-on-a-new-aaa-ip |title=Ubisoft Toronto is Working on a New AAA IP |first=Cassidee |last=Moser |date=14 July 2015 |website=IGN |access-date=29 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616152659/https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/07/14/ubisoft-toronto-is-working-on-a-new-aaa-ip |archive-date=16 June 2019 |url-status=live }} This game was later revealed to be Starlink: Battle for Atlas, an action-adventure game with optional toys-to-life integration.{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/06/12/ubisoft-unveils-starlink-video-game-with-toys-that-attach-to-your-controller/ |title=Ubisoft unveils Starlink video game with toys that attach to your controller |first=Dean |last=Takahashi |date=12 June 2017 |website=VentureBeat |access-date=12 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904013304/https://venturebeat.com/2017/06/12/ubisoft-unveils-starlink-video-game-with-toys-that-attach-to-your-controller/ |archive-date=4 September 2017 |url-status=live }} The game was released in 2018 as the studio's first own IP.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-06-12-ubisoft-toronto-we-can-bring-life-back-to-toys-to-life |title=Ubisoft Toronto: "We can bring life back to toys-to-life" |first=Christopher |last=Dring |date=12 June 2017 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |access-date=12 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313092424/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-06-12-ubisoft-toronto-we-can-bring-life-back-to-toys-to-life |archive-date=13 March 2018 |url-status=live }} As of July 2017, Ubisoft Toronto has 600 staff members.{{cite web |url=https://business.financialpost.com/technology/gaming/ubisoft-torontos-big-bet-a-new-spin-on-toy-based-video-games |title=Ubisoft Toronto's big bet: A new spin on toy-based video games with Starlink |first=Chad |last=Sapieha |date=6 July 2017 |website=Financial Post |access-date=29 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616152657/https://business.financialpost.com/technology/gaming/ubisoft-torontos-big-bet-a-new-spin-on-toy-based-video-games |archive-date=16 June 2019 |url-status=live }}
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. Parizeau left the company in February 2021 and was replaced by Istvan Tajnay, who had previously been the managing director for Ubisoft Berlin.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-02-03-ubisoft-toronto-appoints-new-managing-director |title=Ubisoft Toronto appoints new managing director |first=James |last=Batchelor |date=3 February 2021 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |access-date=4 February 2021}}
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.{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/22837857/splinter-cell-remake-announcement-ubisoft-toronto-snowdrop |title=A Splinter Cell remake is in development at Ubisoft Toronto |first=Owen S. |last=Good |date=15 December 2021 |website=Polygon |access-date=15 December 2021}} 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.{{cite web | url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/ubisoft-appoints-veteran-managing-directors-for-toronto-and-montpellier-studios | title=Ubisoft appoints veteran managing directors for Toronto and Montpellier studios }}
In June 2024, it was announced that Ubisoft Toronto would assist Ubisoft Montreal in the development of the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake.{{Cite web |last=Moon |first=Mariella |date=2024-06-04 |title=Ubisoft Toronto is helping out with the troubled Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake |url=https://www.engadget.com/ubisoft-toronto-is-helping-out-with-the-troubled-prince-of-persia-the-sands-of-time-remake-050059045.html |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}} Later that month, 33 employees were let go as part of a "targeted realignment to ensure it can deliver on its ambitious roadmap."{{Cite news |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=2024-06-28 |title=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' |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/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/ |access-date=2024-06-29 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}}
NEXT Competition
Ubisoft Toronto NEXT (Formerly Ubisoft Toronto NXT Showcase) is an annual competition held by Ubisoft Toronto, aimed towards post secondary students and recent graduates.{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Mannat |date=2023-05-12 |title=Ubisoft Toronto NEXT 2023 Winners — Celebrating 10 Years of Supporting Student Talent in Ontario - Ubisoft Toronto |url=https://toronto.ubisoft.com/ubisoft-toronto-next-2023-winners-celebrating-10-years-of-supporting-student-talent-in-ontario/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Chong |first=Erica |date=2024-03-28 |title=Ubisoft Toronto NEXT 2024 Winners — Celebrating Ontario’s Student Talent in Game Dev - Ubisoft Toronto |url=https://toronto.ubisoft.com/ubisoft-toronto-next-2024-winners-celebrating-ontarios-student-talent-in-game-dev/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Chong |first=Erica |date=2025-03-27 |title=Announcing the Winners of Ubisoft Toronto NEXT 2025 - Ubisoft Toronto |url=https://toronto.ubisoft.com/announcing-the-winners-of-ubisoft-toronto-next-2025/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |language=en}}
class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+List of Past NEXT Winners !Year !Category !Winner !School !Ref. |
2018
|Model Art |Armand Mech |
2018
|Concept Art |Dhenzel Obeng |
2018
|Animation |Duke Alphonse Sanchez |
2018
|Programming |Wesley Ducharme |
2019
|Animation |Jacob LaFortune |
2019
|Concept Art |Damir Musken |
2019
|Level Design |Nathan Powless-Lynes |
2019
|Modelling |Dylan James Abernethy |
2019
|Programming |Jack Snopek |
2019
|User Interface |Kogulan Sivaneshan |
2020
|3D Art |Dong-Hoon Choi |
2020
|Animation |Bruno Sampaio Leme Dias |
2020
|Concept Art |David Mattiacci |
2020
|Level Design |Sukhraj Johal |
2020
|Programming |Jacob Pratley |
2020
|Technical Art |Mohamad Salame |
2020
|User Interface |Shane Saxton |
2021
|3D Art |Maria Kniazieva |
2021
|Concept Art |Sergi Iranzo |
2021
|Technical Art |Jessica Le |
2021
|Cinematic Animation |Yourim Kim |
2021
|Gameplay Animation |Lavio Ribeiro Fidelis Neto |
2021
|Level Design |David De La Peña Frigolet |
2021
|Programming |Rob Savaglio |
2022
|3D Art |Ryan Honey |
2022
|Animation |Yuxing Wang |
2022
|Programming |Victor Shi |
2022
|Level Design |Camila Kukulski |
2022
|Technical Art |Yuan Chen |
2022
|Concept Art |Jackson Kachun So |
2023
|3D Art |Melissa Friesen |
2023
|Animation |Xiangyu Chen |
2023
|Concept Art |Abhishek Arabind Das |
2023
|Game Design |Junsu Jang |
2023
|Level Design |Ken Stevens |
2023
|Programming |Bijia Zhao |
2023
|UX Design |Jay Lee |
2024
|3D Art |Yueran (Cassandra) Zhou |
2024
|Animation |Jonathan Chen |
2024
|Concept Art |Qiushi Jin |
2024
|Game Design |Tiago Massochin |
2024
|Level Design |Chris Russell Shantz |
2024
|Programming |Shaelynn Keiko Curran |
2024
|Technical Art |Jiahui Hu |
2025
|3D Art |Anya Ng-Chee |
2025
|Animation |Daylan Belsey |
2025
|Concept Art |Gabriel Fuentes |
2025
|Event Scripting |Yun Yin (Joyce) Lin |
2025
|Level Design |Calvin Ip |
2025
|Programming |Ramy Zhang |
2025
|Technical Animation |Marcus Angelo Santos |
2025
|Technical Art |Alexandro Di Nunzio |
2025
|VFX |Reyhan Ismail |
Games developed
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://toronto.ubisoft.com/}}
{{Ubisoft}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Canadian companies established in 2010
Category:2010 establishments in Ontario
Category:Canadian subsidiaries of foreign companies
Category:Companies based in Toronto
Category:Ubisoft divisions and subsidiaries
Category:Video game companies established in 2010