Ubisoft’s internal atmosphere was put under the spotlight recently when an annual employee survey unearthed significant concerns about the company’s future. CEO Yves Guillemot responded to these worries in a memo that, unsurprisingly, found its way to the public.
Over the past few years, Ubisoft has faced a series of setbacks, struggling particularly since the start of 2024. High-profile releases like Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Skull and Bones, and Star Wars Outlaws have not lived up to sales forecasts. Adding to the woes, XDefiant, the free-to-play military shooter launched in May 2024, also fell short of expectations. The company plans to shut down the game by June 2025, which has led to the closure of Ubisoft’s San Francisco and Osaka studios, resulting in substantial layoffs.
In the midst of these developments, Yves Guillemot addressed employees in a message that was later disclosed by Insider Gaming. He acknowledged the widespread apprehension among staff, revealed by the company’s annual experience survey, which saw 86% participation and resulted in over 55,000 comments. This number is quite significant considering Ubisoft’s current workforce of around 21,000 means that, on average, each employee had about 2.6 comments.
Guillemot assured the team that he is fully committed to steering Ubisoft through these challenging times. He emphasized that both he and his leadership team are dedicated to finding effective solutions to ensure the company maintains control over its future. Part of this effort includes rolling out several new initiatives designed to address the concerns raised by staff. These initiatives aim to improve development processes and refocus efforts on creativity, a priority that Ubisoft had already highlighted in its review of internal practices initiated in September 2024.
In his communication, Guillemot reflected on the closure of XDefiant and its associated studios, calling these decisions "tough". He admitted that despite their best efforts, they were unable to compete with giant titles like Call of Duty. Nonetheless, he expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed to the project.
As Ubisoft navigates these hurdles, Assassin’s Creed Shadows becomes a critical player in their strategy to rectify the situation. With a newly slated release date of February 14, the game stands as the company’s primary hope of clawing back some of its former success. The pressure is intense, given that the last major entry, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, generated over $1 billion in revenue. However, it thrived partly due to the pandemic-induced boom in gaming, making similar success levels a tall order for Shadows, even if it excels in every aspect.
