Ubisoft size disparity has become a focal point of industry discussion, particularly following recent remarks from Kingdom Come director Daniel Vávra. Despite the French publishing giant undergoing a “major reset” earlier this year, which included approximately 1,200 job losses, the cancellation of six games, and the closure of two studios, its operational scale remains staggering. With over 16,500 employees spread across a vast global network of dozens of studios, Ubisoft dwarfs many of its contemporaries, prompting questions about its resource management and development efficiency in comparison to smaller, agile developers.
The Scale of Ubisoft’s Operations
Warhorse Studios, the Czech-based developer behind the critically acclaimed Kingdom Come: Deliverance series, offers a stark contrast. Operating from just two offices and employing an estimated 240 workers, Warhorse successfully delivered a strong 2025 Game of the Year contender in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Furthermore, the studio has ambitious plans for a follow-up as early as 2027 and is reportedly developing a Lord of the Rings RPG. This productivity from a relatively lean operation highlights the significant disparity in scale when compared to Ubisoft, which, despite its recent challenges, also released notable titles last year such as Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Anno 17, and a new Just Dance game.
Daniel Vávra, the controversial co-founder and director of both Kingdom Come: Deliverance titles, recently stoked this debate on Twitter. Responding to a report of Ubisoft’s record financial losses, Vávra contextualized Ubisoft’s immense size in terms highly favorable to Warhorse. He remarked that even after its significant layoffs, Ubisoft remains the size of “70 Warhorse sized studios.”
“Even after layoffs, Ubisoft is the size of 70 Warhorse sized studios. You have to wonder what they’re doing with all those resources.”
Vávra’s statement, made on Friday, June 5, 2026, implies that theoretically, Ubisoft possesses the capacity to produce ten games the size of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 simultaneously. This observation casts a critical light on the efficiency of large-scale development models, especially when juxtaposed with the output of smaller, more focused studios. The implication is clear: if a studio like Warhorse can deliver high-quality, ambitious RPGs with a fraction of the workforce, what accounts for the perceived underperformance or inefficiency of a behemoth like Ubisoft?
Market Dynamics and Development Efficiency
The comparison, while not a perfect apples-to-apples scenario given the multinational nature of Ubisoft versus a unified AA studio, nonetheless raises pertinent questions for the broader gaming industry. Investors and market analysts are increasingly scrutinizing the return on investment for massive development teams. The trend of consolidation and expansion has led many publishers to accumulate vast internal resources, but the ability to translate sheer size into proportional output and consistent quality remains a persistent challenge.
Ubisoft’s strategy has historically relied on a multi-studio approach, where different teams contribute to various aspects of a single large-scale title or develop multiple franchises concurrently. This distributed model, while offering flexibility, can also introduce complexities in coordination, communication, and maintaining a singular creative vision. The recent layoffs and game cancellations suggest an acknowledgment within Ubisoft that its previous operational structure was not yielding optimal results, prompting a strategic shift towards a more streamlined and focused approach.
What’s Next for Industry Giants and Independents
Looking ahead, Ubisoft has signaled plans to return to higher quality standards across its core franchises, promising more Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Ghost Recon titles. This renewed focus aims to leverage its considerable resources more effectively. Meanwhile, Warhorse Studios continues its trajectory, capitalizing on the success of its historical RPGs and venturing into new, highly anticipated projects like the rumored Lord of the Rings RPG.
The contrasting narratives of Ubisoft and Warhorse highlight a critical juncture in the gaming industry. While massive corporations grapple with the complexities of scale and efficiency, smaller studios demonstrate that focused vision and lean operations can yield significant creative and commercial success. This ongoing dialogue about studio size and output will undoubtedly shape future development strategies, investment decisions, and ultimately, the landscape of game releases for years to come.
