Ubisoft Leamington Closes After 22 Years: A Look Back at FreeStyleGames’ Legacy

In a significant moment for the UK development scene, Ubisoft Leamington—known previously as FreeStyleGames—officially closed its doors on April 1, 2025, ending a celebrated 22-year tenure in the video game industry. Background: FreeStyleGames was founded in late 2002 by a group of seasoned developers, including Alex Darby, David Osbourn, Jamie Jackson, and Phil Hindle, who were formerly of Codemasters, alongside ex-Rare talents Alex Zoro and Jonny Ambrose.

The studio made its debut with 'B-Boy', a competitive breakdancing title for the PlayStation 2 and PSP, published by Sony Computer Entertainment in 2006.

This was followed by work on the 'Buzz! Junior' series, specifically 'Buzz! Junior: Monster Rumble' and 'Buzz! Junior: RoboJam', further solidifying the studio’s expertise in family-friendly and music-driven games. A Defining Era: In September 2008, FreeStyleGames was acquired by Activision Publishing.

Under the new partnership, the studio contributed downloadable content for the acclaimed 'Guitar Hero' franchise and developed 'DJ Hero' (2009), a well-received spin-off that utilized a unique turntable controller.

'DJ Hero' garnered praise from industry outlets such as Game Informer, Eurogamer, and IGN, and despite a slow commercial start, the title enjoyed a lasting positive reception and led to the release of 'DJ Hero 2' in 2010. Following its stint creating original music-based IP, FreeStyleGames transitioned into a support role within Activision, working on titles from the 'Skylanders' and 'Call of Duty' series.

The studio returned to the spotlight in 2015 with 'Guitar Hero Live', a modern reboot that leveraged live-action video and a new guitar controller in an attempt to revitalize the rhythm genre. A New Chapter with Ubisoft: In 2017, the studio underwent another major change when it was acquired by Ubisoft and rebranded as Ubisoft Leamington.

The team contributed to notable Ubisoft releases including 'Starlink: Battle for Atlas', 'Tom Clancy's The Division 2', and most recently, 'Assassin's Creed Shadows'. Closure and Legacy: Earlier this year, Ubisoft announced a global restructuring plan that included the closure of Ubisoft Leamington.

In its final message shared through LinkedIn and Twitter/X, studio representatives expressed gratitude to their "talented team, whose creativity, passion and dedication have left a lasting mark on the games we've created." The statement confirmed that Ubisoft Leamington would be merging its account with Ubisoft Reflections, ensuring the local community could stay informed about ongoing UK developments. After more than two decades of innovation and creativity, the closure marks the end of an era for one of the UK's most influential game studios.

Ubisoft Leamington leaves behind a storied legacy, with groundbreaking contributions to the rhythm game genre, significant support on blockbuster franchises, and an enduring impact on both the local and global development community.

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