Ubisoft Acquires Longtail's Quebec Studio

Longtail Studios Quebec, which developed Dance on Broadway and contributed to Michael Jackson: The Experience for Ubisoft, is reportedly getting much closer to the publisher -- in fact, the physical studio will close its doors as Ubisoft integrates nearly all of its staff into its own studio in the province. "The Longtail team has already completed several important projects for Ubisoft," said the company in a statement. "This initiative will allow Ubisoft Quebec to acquire additional expertise, as well as talented and experienced developers who participated in the development of key Kinect projects including Michael Jackson: The Experience. " In a French-language report translated by Gamasutra, Quebec publication La Soleil claims five or six employees have lost their jobs in the transition, but that number remains unconfirmed. The integration of Longtail's Quebec staff directly into Ubisoft's team in the province comes just a few weeks after studio director Andreas Mollman left his position without explanation. According to the report, only Longtail's Quebec studio is affected; the company and its administrative operations are headquartered in New York, and Longtail maintains studios in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Charlottetown, PE. A spokesperson for Longtail told La Soleil that the staff acquired by Ubisoft (along with assets) represent about half its total personnel, and that its development operations will now center on the Halifax studio, which is currently staffing up for future projects. The spokesperson disputed La Soleil's suggestion that the future of the company overall may be uncertain, and she denied reports that the Longtail's owner, Gerard Guillemot -- Ubisoft co-founder and brother of CEO Yves -- would be leaving the video game business. "I do not know Mr. Guillemot's future plans, but I know he's concentrating his efforts on fully supporting our Halifax studio," said the rep.