Ubisoft opens two new studios
Berlin and Bordeaux branches, plus at least 100 jobs, added to Assassin's Creed publisher's global empire
Ubisoft has announced the opening of two new development studios in Germany and its home nation of France.
As might be expected given the publisher's strategy of using multiple studios around the world on its blockbuster releases, the newly-opened branches will "assist in developing new AAA games for some of Ubisoft's biggest franchises".
Ubisoft expects to have at least 100 staff working cross the two studios - one based in Bordeaux, the other in Berlin - by the end of their first year of operation. Their creation brings the company's total number of French studios to five, and three in Germany.
Julien Mayeux has been named as studio manager for Ubisoft Bordeaux, although no head has been named for Ubisoft Berlin yet.
"We pride ourselves on attracting and retaining the best creative talent around the world, and on establishing video games as a viable career option and economic contributor in new locales," said Ubisoft's worldwide studios director Christine Burgess-Quémard.
"Opening new studios in both France and Germany enables us to offer more opportunities to skilled graduates and industry veterans in those regions, who in turn will help our highly-skilled teams in development of some of our biggest franchises."
Ubisoft Bordeaux will asses the publisher's studios in Annecy, Lyon, Montpellier and Paris on franchises that have been primarily developed in France. These include Just Dance, Steep and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Wildlands.
Meanwhile, Ubisoft Berlin will be working closely with the two Blue Byte studios in Dusseldorf and Mainz, which are responsible for Anno and The Settlers. Both Berlin and Bordeaux will be assisting with "new AAA games".