Ubisoft to expand Quebec operations: 1,000 new jobs

Video game producer Ubisoft is expanding its Quebec operations and hopes to create 1,000 more jobs than it had previously forecast.

The company, which has 1,600 employees in Quebec, said Friday it could invest up to an additional $451 million over the next six years and have 3,000 employees.

That is 1,000 more jobs than Ubisoft had forecast in the past for 2005-2010.

About 500 people would be hired to create new video games, while the other half would work at a new production centre that would make short films based on Ubisoft brands.

"In 1997 Ubisoft made the decision to wager on Quebec's immense creative potential," said chief executive officer Yves Guillemot.

"Today, we are pursuing our strategy centred on innovation by increasing investments in our creative teams based in Quebec. Video game production has progressively moved closer and closer to film and television production and this convergence will only intensify in the coming years."

Ubisoft produces and distributes interactive entertainment products worldwide. The company has offices in 21 countries and sales in more than 50 countries around the globe.