Two weeks ago, I parted ways with Ubisoft Singapore after nearly three years. Actually, let me be very clear, without mincing words: It was not my decision.
It happened approximately a week after the launch of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, a project I had been assigned to last year to help push it over the finishing line. My mandate on said project had already come to an end at the start of this month, and I found myself moved to a temporary “limbo project”, one that many Ubi employees find themselves in after a project has shipped, while they await joining/being assigned to a new one.
During my time in this limbo existence, I quietly celebrated* having had the opportunity to contribute to the successful launch of a game in such an iconic game series, took courses to up-skill myself, got caught up on relevant GDC talks from the last two years, and started thinking about what my future at the company would look like, what kind of in-between-project initiatives I could join (or create), and how I could maybe prepare for the inevitable AI future that engulfs any and all game studios eventually.
* (as behooves an introvert)
However, on the fated day I was invited to a 1:1 with my manager shortly after lunch, in itself not an unusual occurrence. We engaged in some random chitchat along the way to a meeting room that, to my surprise, also featured two HR representatives, one of whom essentially informed me that my services would no longer be required by Ubisoft as it was time to part ways, effective immediately. I was asked to hand in my employee-badge, and after signing a few papers that said they’d pay out my notice period (which they did) and free me from the non-competition clause (which they also did) etc., I was surreptitiously* escorted from the premises, with a promise that the personal belongings on my desk would be sent to my home by courier (which they were).
* (what a cool word)
I wish I would have had the chance to say my goodbyes to colleagues I sat next to for the better part of 9 months on Black Flag and the ones I worked alongside for two years on Skull and Bones, or to send that usual “been great working with you all, thanks for all the fish, let’s connect on LinkedIn“-mail to let people know I did not just vanish silently into the night* like a ghost, but no dice. At least I ran into one of my (now former) colleagues/lunch-comrades on my way out of the building lobby, so I could give them a quick heads up about my departure.
*(or at least late afternoon)
A quick side note here to remind all of you, dear readers, to always keep your portfolios up to date. Don’t postpone it until later, don’t delay it until next week. Update it while it’s all fresh in your mind, while you have all the references to your work readily at hand.
Since then the days have been quite a blur, my sleep schedule has gotten messed up*, my thoughts have wandered all over the place, but gradually I’ve been coming to terms with what happened. To say I’ve been in a stupefied state of shock would be exaggerating, but at the very least I was left dumbfounded and disappointed, having received no prior indications that I was in the “danger zone”, and to my knowledge was on good terms with all of my colleagues, bosses and HR. Maybe I missed subtle signs that said otherwise.
* (I can game all night again! It’s just like the good old dayszzZzzZzzzZzz)
But oh well, life goes on! And as I can’t change the past (or so I’ve been told🤔), it’s now time to look to new horizons, update my resume, practice those job interview questions* and start looking around for other opportunities, assuming those are still a thing in this day and age of mass industry layoffs. Only one way to find out!
*(My greatest weakness? My dedication to perfection and also my bubble tea addiction. J/k, it’s not an addiction, I can stop anytime I want! I just don’t want to…)