At E3 this year, Ubisoft announced the creation of Ubisoft Digital Arts, a new branch of the company that would employ creative types to use video game technology to produce short films, comics, and other potentially entertaining content, all the while continuing its video game business.
Today, the game publisher has announced that it will be expanding its operations in Canada, with the announcement that a new studio in Toronto, Ontario will be built, creating some 800 new jobs, with the local government contributing some CA$263 over ten years, while Ubisoft invest half a billion Canadian dollars in the development studio, which will start work in “late 2009″.
While no projects have been announced by the yet to be established studio at this stage, the new studio, called Ubisoft Toronto will be managed by Yannis Mallat, the CEO of of Ubisoft Montreal. The studio will work on “Triple-A” games, working within the same framework as other Ubisoft studios.
Yves Guillemot, President and Chief Executive of Ubisoft is pleased about the move, stating that:
Today’s announcement marks a strategic move for Ubisoft as we continue to expand our internal development force. We are in an excellent position to grow and after extensive analysis we are thrilled to have reached an agreement with the government of Ontario to found our new studio in Toronto. The city is one of North America’s economic and cultural epicenters and our expectations are high. We’re excited to be able to count on the exceptional local talent, who will contribute to our accelerated growth and will have a profound impact on the video game industry with the excellence of their creativity.
With other studios culling staff or going bankrupt, it is good to see that Ubisoft are confident enough to establish a new studio and take on new staff in what can only be described as a massive investment.
The man who will oversee operations at the new Toronto studio, Yannis Mallat, had the following to say:
We are incredibly excited to finally tap into the remarkable talent Ontario has been developing over the years. Toronto’s unique pool of experience video game industry and film industry talent will allow us to develop a team with exceptional ability to help us realise our goals for creating brands with universal appeal that extend beyond the world of video games.
With the Ontario government making a major financial contribution to the establishment of the studio, the Premier of the region, Dalton McGuinty was present at the press conference which saw Ubisoft announce the new studio. The Premier said:
Our world is one where you can borrow capital, you can copy technology and you can buy natural resources. But to build a high wage and a high standard of living you need talent. By investing in Ubisoft, we’re building Ontario’s economy now and for the future.
Operations at the new Toronto studio run by Ubisoft will begin later in the year, and is expected to create 800 new jobs, and will add to Ubisoft’s pool of Canadian studios.
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