Ubisoft opens up new studio in Kiev

by Jason Dobson { Apr 30th 2008 at 10:00AM }

Ubisoft has expanded its reach once more, this time establishing another Eastern European studio in Kiev, Ukraine. According to a GameDaily report, the studio is currently working with Ubisoft Bucharest on the PC version of the previously announced Tom Clancy's HAWX.

Wasting little time, Ubisoft has staffed up the studio with a "core team of 12 developers," led by Blazing Angels: Secret Missions of WWII dev Vitalii Blazheiev. The studio is expected to eventually employ 50 people over the next 12 months, with more than 800 working for the company's numerous Eastern European studios by 2009. Clearly Ubisoft has found something special in the region that it can't ignore. Germknödel perhaps?

Tags: europe, hawx, kiev, studio, tom clancy, TomClancy, ubisoft

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

benhc911 @ Apr 30th 2008 7:07PM

"Germknödel perhaps?" it is things like this that keep me coming back to this site over other blogs which shall not be named; keep up the good work!

On topic: I have always found it interesting how Ubi is strategically locating offices around the planet, and taking over as one of the number one game developers... impending military coup? Sam Fisher? GRAW? Prince of Persia? Mind control through videogame hypnotics? I think yes

syrik zero @ Apr 30th 2008 10:26AM

I love the games coming from Montreal! Honestly don't know if I've played any other Ubisoft games...

Obie @ Apr 30th 2008 10:33AM

lol worst photoshop...evar!

syrik zero @ Apr 30th 2008 11:05AM

Like your avatar? Haha =P

Obie @ Apr 30th 2008 11:07AM

At least mine is a custom...oh snap!

Ted @ Apr 30th 2008 11:07AM

Damn! I'm jealous, I wish I was a video games developper working in Ukraine. I was there a few weeks ago and it's an awesome country. Very cheap alcohol, good food, fun people, and slightly edgy in a good way :)

Instead I get to be a bored exam-plagued student living in London :'(

PojoMofo @ Apr 30th 2008 12:06PM

What is the point of having the oversees development houses? Is it to tap into and employ local developers? How does this finacially make sense as opposed to having everything done under one roof.

I realize that most big developers have multiple offices, I just dont see why it is logistically and finacially benificial.

Ted @ Apr 30th 2008 12:40PM

Perhaps because it's hard to get all the talented developpers from around the world to move to one city. So if you're a big enough company, it's worth moving the company to the people instead of the people to the company.

PojoMofo @ Apr 30th 2008 2:21PM

That was my thinking too, It would be much more cost effective to open an office in Kiev than make 50 people relocate to a different country, which they probably wont want to do.

crsh @ Apr 30th 2008 4:47PM

Before anyone goes off and says Ubisoft is actually opening a sweatshop in Kiev, let's remember Montreal is just about on the same level economically (or was, back when the studio was opened in '96-97), and no, that doesn't prevent anyone in these locations to have vision and talent, and to put out great games.

(I'm a born & bred Montrealer btw)