Ubisoft seems to be on the hunt for financial backers for a bold new business venture that will spotlight some of its flagship franchises like Assassin’s Creed. This news has surfaced thanks to a Bloomberg report, which draws from sources with inside knowledge of the situation.
According to Bloomberg, the French gaming titan is aiming to secure bids for this new initiative by the end of the month. These bids, it appears, would involve acquiring a minority stake. In a notable twist, Tencent—the already significant Ubisoft shareholder with a 9.99% stake—is rumored to be among the interested parties. Tencent has figured prominently in previous discussions about Ubisoft’s strategic direction.
Interestingly, reporters Dong Cao, Vinicy Chan, and Benoit Berthelot from Bloomberg reveal that Ubisoft might be chasing a valuation for this offshoot venture that exceeds even that of the main company. However, it’s worth mentioning that discussions are ongoing, and nothing has been finalized yet.
When Bloomberg reached out to Ubisoft for comments, they received the company’s quarterly earnings report along with a snippet emphasizing, “a review of various transformational strategic and capitalistic options is ongoing to help extract the best value from Ubisoft’s assets and franchises for all stakeholders.” Tencent chose not to comment on the situation.
Assuming Bloomberg’s report is on point—given their solid track record especially in such matters—this could be seen as a daring strategy by Ubisoft. By pulling together its most prized IPs into a new entity, Ubisoft could be effectively preparing a more enticing offer for potential investors while distancing these valuable assets from past controversies.
This move might also be strategic in light of recent scandals, including three former Ubisoft executives being charged with serious misconduct. The case, however, has been postponed until June. A fresh business entity could, perhaps, insulate these key IPs from such negative associations, making them more attractive to investors.
As for the impact of Assassin’s Creed: Shadows on this venture, it remains a crucial question. The performance of this game could either fortify Ubisoft’s new path or exacerbate its challenges, depending on how it’s received by both critics and players. With Assassin’s Creed supposedly among the IPs in this new initiative, its success is more critical than ever.
We’ll find out soon enough—Assassin’s Creed: Shadows hits the shelves on March 20. Its reception could significantly influence Ubisoft’s fortunes as the year unfolds.
