“Playtest” room, tchanquée cabin, “rooftop”… Discover Ubisoft’s new premises in Bordeaux

Le Figaro Bordeaux

Bordeaux is increasingly having a say in the video game field. This Tuesday, Ubisoft has just inaugurated new premises on the right bank of Bordeaux, seven years after the arrival of the French company in the city. While only a handful of Ubisoft veterans were present at the time, 400 talents from 20 different nationalities will now rub shoulders in this brand new Bordeaux studio, designed to encourage their creativity.

Ubisoft and Port de la Lune had already proven that they were a good match. Assassin’s Creed Mirage launched in October 2023, was directed from the Ubisoft Bordeaux studio. This video game had been the subject of much historical research, in order to recreate the city of Baghdad in the 9th^e century. The next opus, Assassin’s Creed Shadows will take place in feudal Japan in the 16th^e century, and will be created alongside Ubisoft Quebec.

Julien Mayeux, general manager of Ubisoft Bordeaux, recalls that “the destination of Bordeaux was obvious for Ubisoft with its pool of skills, its quality training and its incomparable living environment”. Since 2017, “the studio has evolved a lot thanks to this environment and especially due to the work and creativity of its teams”. This new location allows Ubisoft Bordeaux to take “a new beginning”against a backdrop of stock market disappointments. Ubisoft’s stock soared on the stock market a few days ago, but after having lost half of its value in a year.

In these new premises, installed on the right bank, a few minutes walk from the Garonne, several thematic spaces have been designed to “foster the creation of memorable gaming experiences”underlines Ubisoft Bordeaux. There is notably a room for «playtest»open to external volunteers and able to accommodate up to 16 players simultaneously, “to actively participate” in game development.

A shack in the cafeteria

A streaming room has been fully equipped for the organization of “live” events on the Twitch platform. The huge studio also has a projection room for viewing “like in the cinema” trailers, cinematics and different versions of the game developed by the teams, as well as a sound studio to supervise and develop the original soundtrack and sound elements of games like Assassin’s Creed Mirage.

In the cafeteria, a tchanquée cabin – a tribute to the oyster cabins originating from the Arcachon basin – offers “an atypical space for brainstorming, having lunch as a team or bringing together the different clubs run by employees”. Beyond productivity, several living spaces designed to promote the well-being of employees have also been installed, including a 280 m² “rooftop”, a gym and showers.

Ubisoft further explains that it gave “particular attention to energy sobriety” in the creation of this new building, in line with the specifications of the Bastide-Niel eco-district under construction in which it is located. The historic elements of the building have been preserved and the materials used have been chosen to echo Bordeaux and its region (terracotta, mineral coating, Bordeaux stone and wood). Photovoltaic panels are installed on the roofs and solar protection has been adapted to each facade. Rainwater will be collected for watering, as will the heat produced by the servers’ air conditioning.

This new location also marks Ubisoft Bordeaux’s desire to “establish a lasting anchor in New Aquitaine”with several local partnerships, interventions in schools, colleges, high schools and rural family homes, the reception of around thirty trainees each year, and links with higher education establishments. Julien Mayeux confides that this new studio should allow Ubisoft Bordeaux “to welcome in the best conditions local and international talents wishing to evolve on the largest licenses in the industry”.