The future of Ubisoft, a major player in the gaming industry, is potentially taking an unusual turn. According to a report from Bloomberg, the Guillemot family, who founded Ubisoft, is contemplating a fresh venture in collaboration with the Chinese giant Tencent. This partnership would transfer some of Ubisoft’s assets into a new, privately-held company, possibly granting Tencent increased influence.
Right now, the specifics of which assets might change hands and which will stay with Ubisoft are still up in the air. Ubisoft’s portfolio is packed with blockbuster franchises like Assassin’s Creed, Ghost Recon, Splinter Cell, and the Tom Clancy series.
Rumors suggest that Ubisoft’s leadership has been on the lookout for a buyout since at least 2024. CEO Yves Guillemot has reportedly been in discussions with Tencent for months, but as of now, no agreement has been reached.
What’s adding a twist to these negotiations is the fate of Ubisoft’s upcoming RPG, Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The game’s launch has been delayed twice, and it’s now slated for March 20, 2025. Given it’s one of the few titles Ubisoft has lined up for 2025, its performance is under significant scrutiny and carries high stakes.
In the wake of Assassin’s Creed Shadows being pushed back, Guillemot revealed that advisors have been brought on board to explore “strategic and financial options that could fully realize our assets’ potential.”
### Turning the Corner?
Financially, Ubisoft has weathered a couple of stormy years. The company has pointed fingers at the underwhelming performance of Star Wars Outlaws as a primary culprit. Additionally, Ubisoft announced it would phase out its free-to-play shooter XDefiant in 2025, impacting 277 jobs with the closure of studios in Osaka, San Francisco, and Sydney.
Despite these challenges, Ubisoft isn’t ready to throw in the towel yet. Insider Gaming has hinted that the company has several large-scale projects in the pipeline, which haven’t been officially revealed or scheduled but are expected to launch by 2026. This lineup supposedly includes a remake of Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, another installment called Assassin’s Creed Hexe, a fresh Ghost Recon title, a Splinter Cell remake, and a few other smaller-scale ventures.
Looking further ahead, Ubisoft’s big names like The Division 3, Beyond Good and Evil 2, an additional mainline Assassin’s Creed RPG, and yet another Assassin’s Creed remake are all rumored to be in development but are further out on the horizon.
I’ll be tracking Ubisoft closely in the upcoming weeks and months. Being one of the leading western publishers with a reputation for producing iconic games, it’s fascinating to watch how everything will unfold.
