‘Completely abrupt and impersonal’: Unity Technologies executes 6th round of cuts

What’s happening at Unity Technologies?

Unity Technologies (Unity) has initiated its sixth round of layoffs in recent years — affecting an undisclosed number of employees, including entire departments.

The exact number of impacted workers remains unknown, but early indications suggest it could be substantial.

This latest round of job cuts follows major layoffs in 2022, 2023, and 2024, signaling continued restructuring at the company.

Official statements and internal memo

Unity has not publicly commented on the layoffs, but 80 Level obtained an internal company memo from CEO Matthew Bromberg, outlining the company’s rationale and future strategy.

Bromberg’s email, sent to staff, confirms that all layoff notifications will be completed by February 12.

The memo cites organizational changes in the CTO, Engine Product, and Ads teams as part of an effort to “bring to market products and services that will transform our position in the marketplace.” Key takeaways from the statement include:

• Restructuring the Engine team under new leadership, focusing on improving product stability and reducing complexity.
• A renewed emphasis on AI and data analytics to enhance Unity’s offerings for game developers and advertisers.
• Further integration of ironSource, two years after the merger, with Unity Ads, Unity LevelPlay, and Tapjoy being unified on a single data platform.
• Leadership shifts, including a transition in the Ads revenue organization, with CRO Nadav Ashkenazy set to step down in the coming months.

Bromberg acknowledged employee frustration with past restructuring efforts, writing: “I know that there is some exhaustion associated with prior changes at Unity that haven’t delivered the promised results, but 2025 is going to be the year where we bring to market products and services that will transform our position in the marketplace and provide a springboard to long-term growth.”

He also confirmed that Unity will provide mental health support for impacted employees and plans to discuss the 2025 strategy in upcoming Town Halls across Montreal, Tel Aviv, Copenhagen, Seoul, Tokyo, and San Francisco.

Affected employees’ perspectives

Digital platform 80 Level is sharing reaction from multiple Unity employees affected by the layoffs.

• Former Senior Software Developer Coline Turquin shared on LinkedIn that she was terminated after five years at Unity as “part of the recent layoffs,” implying a broader impact.
• Former Senior Technical Artist Peter Roe described receiving a 5 AM email informing him of his termination, calling the announcement “completely abrupt and impersonal.” His experience suggests the job cuts were not communicated internally beforehand.
• Additionally, a post from Unity’s official forums revealed that the entire team behind Unity Behavior, a tool used for authoring NPC behaviors, has been laid off. Developer Shanee Nishry confirmed the news, stating, “Unfortunately, we were told today that our team is included in the latest round of layoffs and we will not be able to support you any longer.”

These developments have sparked industry concern about Unity’s direction and how the cuts will affect its technology and services.

Impact on Canadian staff

It remains unclear how many Canadian employees are impacted by the job cuts at Unity.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
• Can I be fired after a bad performance review in Ontario?
• What Albertans need to do if they’re fired after a bad performance review
• Fired after a bad performance review in B.C.: Employee rights

Next steps for Unity employees

If you’ve been affected by the layoffs at Unity, understanding your legal rights is crucial.

Non-unionized employees in Canada’s video game sector are entitled to severance pay based on a variety of factors, including their role, tenure, age, and ability to find similar work.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Compensation: Severance packages, which can be as much as 24 months’ pay, may include salary, bonuses, commissions, and other forms of compensation. Use our firm’s free Severance Pay Calculator to better understand your entitlements.
• Deadlines: You generally have up to two years from the date of your termination to review and negotiate severance offers.
• Action steps: Consult an employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP to ensure your severance package is fair and aligns with Canadian employment laws.

New year, more job cuts

Unity isn’t the only major employer scaling back their staffing levels in 2025.

Big names, including Vale, Canada Post, ADM, Amazon, Shopify, Stripe, BP, Microsoft, Hudson’s Bay, and Wayfair, have also pulled out the axe.

SEE ALSO
• ‘We lost our agility’: Estée Lauder planning to slash up to 7,000 jobs
• Canada’s immigration department slashing workforce by 25%
• Where are layoffs happening in Canada?

Lost your job? Contact us

If you’re fired or let go at Unity for any reason, the experienced employment law team at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP can help.

Our lawyers in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia have helped tens of thousands of non-unionized individuals resolve their workplace issues.

Call us today at 1-855-821-5900 or request a consultation online.

Disclaimer: The materials above are provided as general information about the rights of non-unionized employees in Canada. It is NOT specific to any one company and should NOT be read as suggesting any improper conduct on the part of any specific employer, or a relationship between Samfiru Tumarkin LLP and a specific employer.