Ubisoft Montreal is one of the most well-known game studios in Montreal and one of the largest in the world, making a name for themselves in 2002 with Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell and in 2003 with Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. The studio just celebrated their 25th anniversary, and today are known for the Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six series, the Assassin’s Creed series, and For Honor. I spoke with Public Relations Manager Antione Leduc-Labelle about how being located in Montreal has influenced the company and about how students can stand out in the industry.
What is your company known for?
Creating the best videogames in the world! We are the creators behind Assassin’s Creed, Rainbow Six Siege, Far Cry, Watch Dogs and For honor.
How would you describe your company culture?
Innovative, creative and avant-guardist. Fun is at the heart of what we do and our culture needs to reflect that.
How has being located in Montreal impacted your company culture?
Ubisoft’s arrival in Montreal in 1997 contributed to the development of the industry, and today the city is recognized as the 3rd largest video game hub in the world. We grew up with this culture and today there are more than 45 college and professional training programs and 16 university programs related to multimedia and video games in 11 regions of the province. Montreal is the epicenter of the video game industry and this inspires us every day to surpass ourselves.
Do you have any advice for students looking to enter the game industry?
A career in gaming often starts with personal projects. Build a portfolio, try things out, go to game jams, join other students and make games! It’s a great way to learn and demonstrate your talents. Be daring!
What do you look for when hiring employees/interns?
Curiosity. When you join a company like Ubisoft, there are people to support you. It’s more important to demonstrate a desire to learn and a willingness to create. Open-mindedness is also essential because collaboration is at the heart of our work!
On November 9th, 2022 Champlain students had the opportunity to meet with Ubisoft representatives, Laurence Lebeouf; recruiter, Vanessa Vogler; illustrator and William Homs; a game designer. Students had the opportunity to learn about working at Ubisoft and could ask questions to the presenters about building their portfolios and networking, among other things.