Ubisoft to Shut Down Trials Studio RedLynx and Cut 70 Jobs at Singapore Branch
Another heavy restructuring wave has hit the video game industry. According to report details published by Video Games Chronicle (VGC), Ubisoft is moving to permanently shut down its Finnish studio RedLynx, the renowned team behind the Trials series. Concurrently, the French publisher is carrying out a steep workforce reduction at Ubisoft Singapore, resulting in 70 additional layoffs. In total, over 120 developers are losing their positions as part of an aggressive cost-cutting campaign.
Headquartered in Helsinki since 2000, RedLynx still employs approximately 52 team members. Without an approved new project deemed commercially viable, Ubisoft leadership determined that the studio was no longer sustainable. In Finland, the closure triggers statutory change negotiations with employee representatives, a mandatory consultation process required by Finnish labor law before companies with 50 or more staff can finalize collective dismissals.
The Fall of a Precision Platforming Pioneer
RedLynx revolutionized physics-based platformers and digital arcade titles. Starting out with early web browser releases, the Helsinki developer achieved worldwide prominence in 2009 with Trials HD during the peak of Xbox Live Arcade. That massive commercial success led Ubisoft to acquire the studio in 2011, delivering acclaimed sequels including Trials Evolution, Trials Fusion, and 2019's Trials Rising.
However, studio output gradually dwindled in recent years. Following support work for Massive Entertainment and the cancellation of mobile title Gwen's Getaway in late 2024, the studio had already faced 60 redundancies last autumn. Without an upcoming release scheduled on our game release calendar, management decided to pull the plug entirely.
Ubisoft Singapore Hit by 70 Layoffs
The downsizing also lands heavily in Southeast Asia. Established in 2008 as a regional production hub, Ubisoft Singapore contributed support to mainline Assassin's Creed installments and steered the lengthy development of Skull and Bones.
To reduce operational overhead and realign expenses, Ubisoft is now trimming 70 roles at the Singapore facility. Combined with the Helsinki closure, these measures demonstrate the intense financial pressure facing Ubisoft leadership as the company reorganizes its global network around a leaner footprint.
My Take: Losing an Iconic Creative Team
I find this closure deeply disheartening. RedLynx represented the peak of the Xbox Live Arcade era, a golden time when razor-sharp physics and leaderboard rivalries kept players glued to Trials Evolution until dawn. Watching such an exceptional reservoir of mechanical expertise wiped out simply because a massive publisher failed to greenlight a viable concept is painful.
To me, this outcome highlights Ubisoft's ongoing strategic dilemma. When mega-budget blockbusters struggle and release schedules falter, agile, identity-driven studios are often sacrificed first. It marks a sad day for Finnish game development and for every veteran player who ever mastered a Trials track.
SEO consultant for over 20 years and digital entrepreneur, Charles 'Grimtag' Ronchain is the founder of Pro-Gamer.gg, Retrocharting.com, and Gamescharting.com. A competitive gamer, streamer, and retro game collector, he has worked in the video game industry for over 15 years, notably as a consultant for leading game price comparison platforms. Passionate about real-time performance data and gaming technology, he analyzes competitive esports, gaming hardware benchmarks, and creator workflows on Pro-Gamer.gg with an authentic player perspective.
