Ubisoft Montreal

Ubisoft Montreal is a developer.

Ubisoft Montreal Webpage, Facebook

A Canadian game development studio based in Montreal, part of Ubisoft. The Ubisoft Montreal team develops games for PCs, consoles, and mobile devices, with its portfolio including such series as Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell, Prince of Persia, Far Cry, and Assassin’s Creed. The studio develops its projects either independently or in collaboration with other teams under the French publisher’s banner.

The story of Ubisoft Montreal

Beginning of business

The story of Ubisoft Montreal begins in 1996. At the time, Ubisoft was exploring the idea of opening a new development studio in Quebec, while Montreal was looking for new opportunities for growth. Negotiations between the Montreal and Quebec governments and Ubisoft wrapped up in April 1997, resulting in the creation of Ubisoft Divertissements Inc., internationally known as Ubisoft Montreal.

The French giant chose Montreal specifically because it allowed them to hire French-speaking staff while keeping a studio close to the United States. Another perk was the per-employee subsidy from the city and provincial government, totaling $25,000 CAD over five years.

Ubisoft Montreal was initially planned to create 500 new jobs, but the studio started with a much smaller team of 50 employees. In 1999, Martin Tremblay joined the team, first as executive vice president and, a year later, as the studio’s chief operating officer.

From children's games to Splinter Cell

In its early years, Ubisoft Montreal focused on developing games for younger audiences. This shifted in 2002 with the release of Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell, which the studio developed. The game achieved remarkable artistic and commercial success, sparking a rivalry with the popular Metal Gear Solid series and launching a franchise that would continue to grow in the following years.

Interestingly, creating Sam Fisher’s first adventure was made possible not just by Ubisoft’s acquisition of Red Storm Entertainment, but also by gaining the rights to the Tom Clancy's franchise. The project drew on The Drift, a third-person shooter with stealth elements that Ubisoft’s New York branch never completed.

Prince of Persia, Far Cry and Assassin's Creed

Meanwhile, in 2001, Ubisoft secured the rights to several new IPs. Prince of Persia was the flagship title, and Ubisoft Montreal was tasked with reviving it to its former glory. The team accomplished this by bringing on Jordan Mechner, the creator of the original Prince of Persia games, as a narrative consultant. Released in 2003, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time was a major success, launching the second franchise developed by Ubisoft Montreal.

The third major IP developed by the studio was Far Cry. While the first installment of the series (released in 2004) was developed by Crytek, all subsequent entries - starting with Far Cry 2 in 2008 - were handled by Ubisoft Montreal. A dedicated engine, Dunia, was developed for these games, building on CryEngine technology.

The fourth major series developed by Ubisoft Montreal is Assassin’s Creed. Interestingly, the original plan was to make a spin-off set during the Third Crusade, where players would take on the role of an Assassin serving as the Prince of Persia's bodyguard. Ultimately, though, the team decided to turn the concept into an entirely new IP. The first Assassin’s Creed, a third-person action game, launched in 2007.

From a small studio to an industry giant

Ubisoft Montreal’s successes fueled rapid growth for the studio. In 2007, the studio had 1,600 employees; by 2013, the team had grown to over 3,000, and by 2023, it had surpassed 4,000.

Meanwhile, Ubisoft Montreal continued to develop its major franchises while also taking on other projects. These included titles like Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas (2006) and its sequel (2008), Avatar: The Game (2009), Child of Light (2014), Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege (2015), Watch Dogs (2014) and its sequel (2016), For Honor (2017), and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction (2022).

Moreover, Ubisoft Montreal’s success bolstered the reputations of both the French publisher and the city of Montreal. Over time, other video game companies, such as Electronic Arts, Eidos, THQ, and Warner Bros. Games, also established a presence in Montreal.