Babel Media UK Studio To See 'Potential Relocation'

Game localization and outsourcing company Babel Media is looking to increase the capabilities of its operations in Canada and India, while also scaling back operations at its UK facility. The company noted earlier this month plans to shift operations away from the UK, with a "potential relocation" for the Brighton studio, while services in Canada and India will continue to expand. Richard Leinfellner, CEO of Babel Media, explained, "With a growing number of Babel’s clients centralizing their development services in the US and Canada, Babel will expand its Montreal-based teams to work alongside them in the same time zone." "It’s quite staggering to see Montreal becoming a major interactive entertainment hub in such short time, this realignment of Babel’s resources reflects the cities growing 'Canadian Hollywood' status." However, talking to news site Develop, Leinfellner said of the review of the UK base, "there is a brain drain in the UK while Canada is thriving," noting that developers in the country "cannot compete in the modern business without games tax breaks." Develop also reports that "around thirty jobs hang in the balance" at the Brighton studio. Gamasutra has contacted Babel Media for details. Babel expanded its operations in Montreal back in 2009, allowing the company to "further increase our offering high quality deployment solutions for our clients helping them to improve their profits by giving them the much needed flexibility and allowing them focus on IP generation and exploitation."