PSP World

Ubisoft Opens Studio in Toronto, Canada

Worldwide publisher Ubisoft likes Canada, having opened studios in Montreal, Vancouver and Quebec City already. Today the company announced plans to build a massive new studio in Toronto, paid for by the Ontario government. However, Toronto suffers from a harsh climate and a shortage of other high-profile game developers, making Ubisoft's decision to open a cutting-edge studio there somewhat unusual.

Video game developers are usually located in places with a little bit more cosmopolitan flair and warmer climates. Consider for example studios like Rockstar San Diego, EA Los Angeles, and even Killzone 2 maker Guerilla Games, with its offices located in the charming city of Amsterdam. This is not just an accident of geography. The reason why software companies tend to be located in fun places is because, like Richard Florida argued in his book The Creative Class, cool people with skills want to live in nice cities.

That's not to say that Toronto isn't nice, in its own way. More than 2.5 million people toil there year round under oppressive humidity in the summer and bitter cold in the winter, buffeted by winds that blow at speeds up to 100 km/h from the icy currents of Lake Ontario. So why did Ubisoft decide to open its studio in Toronto instead of say, Miami? Well, money, duh.

The government of Ontario is investing $263 million over ten years in the company, which will employ 800 people at its Toronto location. Ubisoft already employs 2300 other workers at its Montreal, Quebec and Vancouver offices.

"Today's announcement marks a strategic move for Ubisoft as we continue to expand our internal development force," said Yves Guillemot, president and chief executive officer at Ubisoft. "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."

Hmm, we wouldn't exactly call Toronto a "cultural epicenter," but we suppose that Guillemont had to say something. After all, imagine working for years to break into the gaming industry, finally landing your first job at the Ubisoft HQ in Paris, only to be told by your boss months later that you're being transferred to the frozen wastes of Canada. "That's alright," you say, "I heard they speak French in Montreal". Better run and get your atlas, Pierre.

Happy workers during a typical morning commute in Toronto, Canada.