Ubisoft and Tencent launch new subsidiary to supercharge Assassin's Creed, other franchises

[zohaibahd]

In brief: Ubisoft has announced the formation of a new dedicated subsidiary that will take the reins of development on some of its most lucrative franchises. This separate entity will be focused solely on Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six.

The goal is to transform these series into truly "evergreen, multi-platform" ecosystems built for the long haul. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot framed it as a "foundational step" toward an "agile and ambitious" new operating model for the company's future.

The deal, unveiled this week, includes a $1.25 billion investment from Tencent for a 25% minority stake in the new subsidiary. The subsidiary will also have its own board of directors and a "dedicated leadership team," though Ubisoft will maintain overall control.

Guillemot stated that the deal will "crystallize the value" of Ubisoft's biggest assets and put them on solid footing for long-term growth. He added that the new structure will allow the company to make "swift, high-impact decisions" across development, marketing, and distribution.

The subsidiary will absorb developers from Ubisoft studios in Montreal, Barcelona, Sofia, and other cities currently working on Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six titles. Exactly how many will transfer isn't yet clear, nor is the fate of those not making the cut.

For Tencent, doubling down on major Ubisoft franchises represents a renewed vote of confidence after more than a decade as a partner. The company's president, Martin Lau, highlighted the "immense potential" to evolve these series into sustainable gaming platforms.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Nathan Naidu believes that "Tencent's influence will be a positive one." This stems from their existing collaboration in mobile gaming dating back to 2018 when Tencent took a stake to fend off a Vivendi takeover attempt. However, the gaming industry's skyrocketing development costs, fickle consumers, and proliferation of platforms continue to pose a challenge.

If the deal pays off, Tencent's injection of over a billion dollars provides Ubisoft with the runway to double down on its biggest hits. The transaction now awaits regulatory approval, which Ubisoft expects to attain by the year's end. More details are promised in the coming months.

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Ubisoft and Tencent launch new subsidiary to supercharge Assassin's Creed, other franchises

 

[The Talking Tech]

This is the beginning of Tencent acquiring Ubisoft sooner than later.

 

[bviktor]

Embrace your new overlords

 

[Shaitan]

All they had to do was stop it with the 1d1otic move of shoving Yasuke down our throats, in the last AC.
All they had to do was stop it with the ugly-face female and bring Han Solo in the SW: Outlaws.
Oh well, f off Ubisoft, I'm not buying anything again from a company that threatens me with the police for "abuse". Have fun, I'm NOT playing any game from a company which has a CEO stating "get used to not owning your own games".
Die, Ubisoft.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

This constant focusing on games as buzzword filled nonsense instead of just making good games is why sales are down.

 

[guillejp]

So, instead of refocusing on making better products, the came up with another scheme to create another business unit, appoint more suits, keep getting and passing money around and making some big guys richer.

Until, since nothing was fixed, they finally crash to the ground and close and sell everything and some golden parachutes are deployed along the way.

I really should learn a few things from the Guillemots.

 

[yRaz]

"we aren't making bad products, you're being bad customers"

 

[toooooot]

"Ubisoft and Tencent launch new subsidiary to supercharge Assassin's Creed"
Not supercharge, to save this and other most valuable franchises from Ubisoft.

 

[Nobina]

Ubisoft franchises are so played out. Who in their right mind still wants to pay for the 1248th iteration of AC and FC? It's almost as bad as buying FIFA every year. At least be decent and pirate it, you'll delete it soon anyway.

 

[Achaios]

Okay so next UBISOFT title:

Assassin's Creed China.

Protagonists: Marco-Polo, Italian adventurer, soldier and merchant.

Also Miau-Yin, female Shaolin Monk and YAKUZA Assassin.

Plot: Italian Marco Polo going around slaughtering useless Chinese people assisted by other Europeans and even Chinese while wielding a two-handed Japanese DAI-KATANA.

Having *in actuality* being to Japan and lived in Japan I just cannot fathom how the Japanese stomach AC Shadows w/o revolting. IMO the Japanese are way too much focused on "good manners".

Japanese mentality: You chance upon a random Japanese guy and you start to kick and punch the beejesus out of him. After you are done, the Japanese bows deeply and goes on his way. Kinda like the American guy "Johnny Somali" going on a rampage in Japan beating up and disrespecting Japanese men and there's not even one Japanese male to stop him.

Below:
American guy "JOHNNY SOMALI", the african-American guy who single-handedly humiliated Japan and the Japanese and no Japanese guy ever dared to stop him, because he was a holder of a US Passport.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Okay so next UBISOFT title:

Assassin's Creed China.

Protagonists: Marco-Polo, Italian adventurer, soldier and merchant.

Also Miau-Yin, female Shaolin Monk and YAKUZA Assassin.

Plot: Italian Marco Polo going around slaughtering useless Chinese people assisted by other Europeans and even Chinese while wielding a two-handed Japanese DAI-KATANA.

Having *in actuality* being to Japan and lived in Japan I just cannot fathom how the Japanese stomach AC Shadows w/o revolting. IMO the Japanese are way too much focused on "good manners".

Japanese mentality: You chance upon a random Japanese guy and you start to kick and punch the beejesus out of him. After you are done, the Japanese bows deeply and goes on his way. Kinda like the American guy "Johnny Somali" going on a rampage in Japan beating up and disrespecting Japanese men and there's not even one Japanese male to stop him.

Below:
American guy "JOHNNY SOMALI", the african-American guy who single-handedly humiliated Japan and the Japanese and no Japanese guy ever dared to stop him, because he was a holder of a US Passport.

-What?

 

[Liranan]

Ubisoft franchises are so played out. Who in their right mind still wants to pay for the 1248th iteration of AC and FC? It's almost as bad as buying FIFA every year. At least be decent and pirate it, you'll delete it soon anyway.

No, I will not play a San Francisco simulator.

 

[Ohnooze]

This is what happens when you let the crazies run the place.
Copy paste games with almost zero innovation in their games. Then add the insane social justice warriors running the place and there you have it....a recipe for failure.

 

[Watzupken]

In all honesty, sometimes I wonder why big companies are so happy to pay this much money for a "franchise" that was successful, but have since been losing interest? I feel like Tencent should just invest in Chinese game developers that are creating new IPs/ games that are fresh and have a better chance of success and returns. Western game developers have gone sideways for a long time focusing on making money from in game transactions and just putting nicer graphics that kills performance.