It actually hit record sales revenue last financial year, yet the company is the poster child for the structural issues affecting AAA game development.
the last AC game I was able to fully play till the end was Black Flag, which I think still my fav of the series. This looks like platforming Ghost of Tsushima which could be fun, but I also don't a witcher style massive open world like Valhalla.
I read this yesterday, but I'm not sure how true it is. I saw a Reddit thread on it, but haven't parsed to see how valid the report is. No word on which IP though (could it be Assassin's Creed? Or would they want to keep that and bet on it? Could it be everything Tom Clancy, given the lack of recent movement from Ubisoft on that front?)
Thanks! Just to be clear, I'm repeating Joost van Dreuen there. Credit where its due! I really did want to check if his view has changed -- as they can do with new information. But oh well.
That's interesting. I wonder how much value is in the IP without any expertise? Sometimes when series are taken over by a new studio, they can produce a sub-par game as a result? But hard to say.
Any option taken will likely be one where the Guillemot family retains as much control of the company as possible.
I remember supporting Ubisoft during the threat of a takeover from Vivendi and did enjoy Origins and Odyssey. I’m cautiously optimistic about Shadows and will probably wait and see before buying.
I'm optimistic too. The previews have been somewhat mixed, but they always are. After playing Mirage in 2023, and kinda feeling a bit mid about it, I'm really not sure what the best path forward for the series is? Maybe they've cracked it. But I'm at an odd end!
This is an excellent write up for those who don’t have such a great eagles eye view of the economy of games making. I worked for Ubisoft during college as a brand ambassador right when AC 1 was coming out. Feels like a totally different company than the one I was reading about just now. Very French, indeed!
Having fumbled the ball twice recently, with two of the world's biggest IPs no less, they really need to bring this one home. The big question is, can they? It'll be nervous times in the chateau right now that's for sure.
So many questions. For what its worth, there are signs that the company is listening.
Shadows will be a cross-platform release, with the PC version launching at the same time as the console version -- in line with the uptake in PC sales seen in their last annual report. Star Wars was the same I think? So in one way (at least) they are ahead of many other major publishers.
That's just one bit, but there were whole chunks of this piece that I just cut because it was getting way too long. And I wanted to chase some analysts for comment but ran out of time / didn't hear back. But appreciate the feedback -- coming from other reporters across the ditch ;)
Never been a huge Assassin's Creed fan, so I won't be picking this one up. But I agree, even if the game sells upwards of 10 million copies or more, I don't think that's enough to save Ubisoft's trajectory.
Thanks for the analysis, I was not aware that Ubisoft hired way too many people in the last few years compared to revenue earned. Puts their current status in perspective!
Neither was I until I started looking! I just read too many articles that were like: "Ubisoft is in trouble", "Ubisoft needs a win" and didn't actually explain why.
So I went about finding that answer for myself!
I looks like a management mistake... However, I think the size of the company is relative to the games its producing. AAA titles require huge teams. My go-to example: FF7 original (1997) was built by 100 people. FF7-Rebirth (2024) over 1000 people.
the last AC game I was able to fully play till the end was Black Flag, which I think still my fav of the series. This looks like platforming Ghost of Tsushima which could be fun, but I also don't a witcher style massive open world like Valhalla.
What you mentioned about Ubisoft's IP being more valuable than the company itself might be playing out right now: https://www.purexbox.com/news/2025/03/microsoft-has-reportedly-discussed-acquiring-ip-from-ubisoft
I read this yesterday, but I'm not sure how true it is. I saw a Reddit thread on it, but haven't parsed to see how valid the report is. No word on which IP though (could it be Assassin's Creed? Or would they want to keep that and bet on it? Could it be everything Tom Clancy, given the lack of recent movement from Ubisoft on that front?)
Thanks! Just to be clear, I'm repeating Joost van Dreuen there. Credit where its due! I really did want to check if his view has changed -- as they can do with new information. But oh well.
That's interesting. I wonder how much value is in the IP without any expertise? Sometimes when series are taken over by a new studio, they can produce a sub-par game as a result? But hard to say.
Any option taken will likely be one where the Guillemot family retains as much control of the company as possible.
I remember supporting Ubisoft during the threat of a takeover from Vivendi and did enjoy Origins and Odyssey. I’m cautiously optimistic about Shadows and will probably wait and see before buying.
I'm optimistic too. The previews have been somewhat mixed, but they always are. After playing Mirage in 2023, and kinda feeling a bit mid about it, I'm really not sure what the best path forward for the series is? Maybe they've cracked it. But I'm at an odd end!
This is an excellent write up for those who don’t have such a great eagles eye view of the economy of games making. I worked for Ubisoft during college as a brand ambassador right when AC 1 was coming out. Feels like a totally different company than the one I was reading about just now. Very French, indeed!
Hahah, I appreciate the pun there. Glad we're in synchronisation.
Thank you -- I think my main goal was to make it approachable for anyone, including those who don't care or read business coverage!
Having fumbled the ball twice recently, with two of the world's biggest IPs no less, they really need to bring this one home. The big question is, can they? It'll be nervous times in the chateau right now that's for sure.
This is some very good reporting. Top stuff.
Thank you!
So many questions. For what its worth, there are signs that the company is listening.
Shadows will be a cross-platform release, with the PC version launching at the same time as the console version -- in line with the uptake in PC sales seen in their last annual report. Star Wars was the same I think? So in one way (at least) they are ahead of many other major publishers.
That's just one bit, but there were whole chunks of this piece that I just cut because it was getting way too long. And I wanted to chase some analysts for comment but ran out of time / didn't hear back. But appreciate the feedback -- coming from other reporters across the ditch ;)
Never been a huge Assassin's Creed fan, so I won't be picking this one up. But I agree, even if the game sells upwards of 10 million copies or more, I don't think that's enough to save Ubisoft's trajectory.
Thanks for the analysis, I was not aware that Ubisoft hired way too many people in the last few years compared to revenue earned. Puts their current status in perspective!
Neither was I until I started looking! I just read too many articles that were like: "Ubisoft is in trouble", "Ubisoft needs a win" and didn't actually explain why.
So I went about finding that answer for myself!
I looks like a management mistake... However, I think the size of the company is relative to the games its producing. AAA titles require huge teams. My go-to example: FF7 original (1997) was built by 100 people. FF7-Rebirth (2024) over 1000 people.