Ubisoft Leamington

Ubisoft Leamington was a British video-game development studio based in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. The business was established in November 2002 as FreeStyleGames by six developers with backgrounds at Codemasters and Rare. It initially operated as an independent developer and released B-Boy, a competitive break-dancing game, in the mid-2000s. The studio later became associated with music and rhythm games, first through downloadable content work connected with Activision's Guitar Hero series and then through the DJ Hero and Guitar Hero Live projects. Activision acquired FreeStyleGames on 12 September 2008 after a period of commercial collaboration. Under Activision, the studio developed DJ Hero, released in 2009, and DJ Hero 2, released in 2010. It also contributed to Sing Party, a Wii U music title developed with Nintendo. Following the decline of the broader rhythm-game market and Activision's decision to reconsider the Guitar Hero franchise, FreeStyleGames was asked to develop a new direction for the series. The result was Guitar Hero Live, released in 2015 for eighth-generation consoles and other platforms. The project introduced a redesigned guitar controller and a first-person presentation based on filmed performances, distinguishing it from earlier Guitar Hero games. Although Guitar Hero Live received positive critical attention, its commercial performance did not meet Activision's expectations. Activision announced a restructuring in April 2016 that resulted in approximately 50 redundancies at the studio. Several founders subsequently left and established another development company. The remaining business continued under Activision until Ubisoft acquired it on 18 January 2017. Ubisoft renamed the developer Ubisoft Leamington, reflecting its location, and used it primarily as a support studio for large-scale productions rather than as a separately branded lead developer. As a Ubisoft studio, Ubisoft Leamington worked closely with Ubisoft Reflections in Newcastle upon Tyne and contributed to major Ubisoft projects, particularly the Tom Clancy's The Division franchise. Its work formed part of Ubisoft's wider United Kingdom development network, alongside studios involved in technology, production, and support for internationally distributed AAA games. Ubisoft announced a cost-reduction programme in January 2025 that included a proposal to close the Leamington studio. After a consultation process, the studio formally shut down on 1 April 2025. Employees not affected by the closure were reported to have moved to fully remote contracts. The closure ended the operating life of a studio that had existed under the FreeStyleGames name, Activision ownership, and finally Ubisoft ownership.

Ubisoft Leamington began life as FreeStyleGames, a British game developer founded on 29 November 2002 in Leamington Spa. Its founders came from established British developers Codemasters and Rare: Alex Darby, David Osbourn, Phil Hindle and Jamie Jackson had worked at Codemasters, while Alex Zoro and Jonny Ambrose came from Rare. The independent studio's first released project was B-Boy, a competitive break-dancing game published in Europe by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe in 2006 and later released in North America. The game featured prominent break-dancers, including Crazy Legs of the Rock Steady Crew, and received recognition at E3 for its PSP music-game presentation. FreeStyleGames developed a close commercial relationship with Activision through localized downloadable content for the Guitar Hero franchise. Activision acquired the studio on 12 September 2008 for an undisclosed amount. Its first major project under Activision was DJ Hero, a spin-off that replaced the conventional guitar controller with a turntable-style device. Released in 2009, it was followed by DJ Hero 2 in 2010. These projects arrived during a period when rhythm games were facing market saturation and declining demand. The studio also worked with Nintendo on Sing Party, released for Wii U in 2012. After Activision discontinued further Guitar Hero production during the rhythm-market downturn, the publisher later asked FreeStyleGames to explore a possible revival. The studio created a new guitar controller and a substantially different presentation centered on first-person filmed performances. This work became Guitar Hero Live, released in 2015 as the first new Guitar Hero title for the eighth generation of consoles. Critics generally responded positively, but sales did not reach Activision's internal expectations. In April 2016, Activision announced a restructuring that eliminated about 50 positions. Co-founders Jamie Jackson and David Osbourn left around this period, together with Jonathan Napier and Gareth Morrison, to establish Slingshot Cartel. Ubisoft acquired FreeStyleGames from Activision on 18 January 2017 and renamed the company Ubisoft Leamington. The new name emphasized the studio's geographical identity and separated it from its former music-game brand. Under Ubisoft, the studio became primarily a support developer for large-scale productions. It worked particularly closely with Ubisoft Reflections and contributed to the Tom Clancy's The Division franchise. This role placed the studio within Ubisoft's broader United Kingdom production structure, where development teams collaborated across locations on major international releases. In January 2025, Ubisoft announced a cost-reduction programme that included a proposal to close Ubisoft Leamington. Following consultation, the studio ceased operations on 1 April 2025. Staff who were not affected by the closure were reported to have transferred to fully remote contracts. The closure ended more than two decades of operation spanning independent development, Activision-owned music games, and Ubisoft support work.

• 2025

  Studio closure

  [1]Ubisoft Leamingtonen.wikipedia.org

  Following a consultation announced during Ubisoft's cost-cutting programme, the studio closes on 1 April.

• 2017

  The studio becomes Ubisoft Leamington

  [1]Ubisoft Leamingtonen.wikipedia.org

  Ubisoft acquires the developer from Activision and changes its name.

• 2015

  Guitar Hero Live launches

  [1]Ubisoft Leamingtonen.wikipedia.org

  The studio releases a redesigned Guitar Hero experience with a new controller and first-person filmed-performance format.

• 2010

  DJ Hero 2 launches

  [1]Ubisoft Leamingtonen.wikipedia.org

  The studio follows its first DJ Hero title with a sequel.

• 2009

  DJ Hero launches

  [1]Ubisoft Leamingtonen.wikipedia.org

  The studio releases its turntable-based rhythm-game spin-off from Guitar Hero.

• 2008

  Activision acquires FreeStyleGames

  [1]Ubisoft Leamingtonen.wikipedia.org

  Activision purchases the developer after earlier cooperation on Guitar Hero-related downloadable content.

• 2006

  B-Boy is released in Europe

  [1]Ubisoft Leamingtonen.wikipedia.org

  The studio's first game, a competitive break-dancing title, is published in Europe.

• 2002

  FreeStyleGames is founded

  [1]Ubisoft Leamingtonen.wikipedia.org

  Six developers with previous experience at Codemasters and Rare establish FreeStyleGames in Leamington Spa.

A specialist development and support studio for console and AAA video games, with particular historical expertise in music, rhythm and interactive entertainment projects.

• Music and rhythm game · 2006

  B-Boy

  B-Boy is a competitive break-dancing game and FreeStyleGames' first released title. It was published in Europe by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe in 2006 and later distributed in North America. The game used licensed and performance-oriented break-dancing content and featured Crazy Legs of the Rock Steady Crew alongside other real-world dancers. It was recognized at E3 in the PSP music-game category.

• Music and rhythm game · 2009

  DJ Hero

  DJ Hero is a rhythm-game spin-off of Guitar Hero developed after FreeStyleGames joined Activision. Instead of simulating guitar performance, it uses a turntable-style controller and asks players to perform DJ-like actions across a range of songs. The title established the studio's identity as a specialist in music-game hardware and interaction design during the late-2000s expansion of the rhythm-game market.

• Music and rhythm game · 2010

  DJ Hero 2

  DJ Hero 2 is the studio's follow-up to DJ Hero. It retained the turntable-based performance concept while extending the series during a period when music and rhythm games were becoming increasingly crowded. Its development demonstrated Activision's continued investment in FreeStyleGames before the publisher shifted away from the broader Guitar Hero production cycle.

• Music game · 2012

  Sing Party

  Sing Party is a Wii U music game developed through collaboration involving FreeStyleGames and Nintendo. It expanded the studio's work beyond guitar- and DJ-focused mechanics into a group singing format designed for collaborative play on Nintendo's console platform.

• Music and rhythm game · 2015

  Guitar Hero Live

  Guitar Hero Live was FreeStyleGames' major revival project for Activision's Guitar Hero franchise. It introduced a substantially redesigned guitar controller and a first-person presentation using filmed performers and audience reactions rather than the series' earlier animated-stage format. The game launched for eighth-generation consoles and other platforms in 2015. It received favorable critical reviews but did not achieve the commercial results Activision had projected.

• AAA game development support

  Tom Clancy's The Division franchise support

  After becoming part of Ubisoft, Ubisoft Leamington operated mainly as a support studio. It contributed to the Tom Clancy's The Division franchise and worked closely with Ubisoft Reflections. Available reference material identifies the franchise-level contribution but does not specify a complete list of individual tasks or releases.

• 2025

  Closure as part of Ubisoft cost reductionsStrategy

  Background

  Ubisoft announced a cost-reduction programme that included a proposal to close the Leamington studio.

  Action taken

  Following a consultation process, Ubisoft Leamington officially closed on 1 April 2025.

  Aftermath

  Employees not affected by the closure moved to fully remote contracts, while the studio ceased to operate as a physical development entity.

  Source

• 2017

  Ubisoft acquires and renames the studioM&A

  Background

  Activision divested the developer after the commercial disappointment of Guitar Hero Live and the resulting restructuring.

  Action taken

  Ubisoft acquired FreeStyleGames on 18 January and renamed it Ubisoft Leamington.

  Aftermath

  The studio shifted toward support work for Ubisoft's AAA productions, including The Division franchise, and collaborated closely with Ubisoft Reflections.

  Source

• 2015

  Launch of Guitar Hero LiveProduct launch

  Background

  Activision sought a new approach to revive Guitar Hero after the rhythm-game market had weakened and the franchise had been paused.

  Action taken

  FreeStyleGames created a new controller and first-person filmed-performance format for the title.

  Aftermath

  The game was well received by critics but fell short of Activision's commercial expectations, contributing to a later restructuring.

  Source

• 2008

  Activision purchases FreeStyleGamesM&A

  Background

  FreeStyleGames had already collaborated with Activision, particularly on localized downloadable content associated with Guitar Hero.

  Action taken

  Activision acquired the studio on 12 September 2008 for an undisclosed amount.

  Aftermath

  The developer became an Activision studio and went on to create DJ Hero, DJ Hero 2 and Guitar Hero Live.

  Source

1. 1Ubisoft Leamingtonen.wikipedia.org