A new batch of insider information about Ubisoft has emerged. The French company appears to be at a crossroads, suffering from mismanagement and a string of failed game releases, but with high hopes for the launch of the next major installment in the Assassin’s Creed series.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
According to a new extensive report from Insider Gaming on the state of Ubisoft, the Guillemot family has suspended talks with Tencent and advisors regarding a potential company buyout until late February or early March.
- The plan is to wait until the launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows to gain a stronger negotiating position. If the game succeeds, Guillemot Brothers Ltd., which currently owns 15% of Ubisoft, will have a chance to retain its stake.
- Tencent, on the other hand, is also taking a wait-and-see position, as a potential failure of AC Shadows might give it an opportunity to buy more shares at a lower price (the Chinese tech giant currently owns about 10% of Ubisoft and 49.9% of Guillemot Brothers Ltd).
- Insider Gaming says pre-orders for AC Shadows “were high before the game’s delay and are still looking strong, but expectedly still behind that of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.” Even if the game becomes a commercial hit, it won’t necessarily solve all of Ubisoft’s issues.
- According to the publication, Ubisoft has long been suffering from mismanagement, leading to game delays, project shutdowns, and major failures like Skull and Bones and XDefiant. Its latest annual internal survey showed that some studios had an “overall company trust level as low as 15-20%.”
- Ubisoft is currently investigating its internal problems, but Insider Gaming’s sources doubt that it will lead to any major changes. There is a speculation that CEO Yves Guillemot “would rather go down with the [Skull & Bones] ship rather than give up his position with a similar sentiment reflected about the other Guillemot brothers.”
First reports about Ubisoft’s uncertain future appeared last October, with Guillemot Brothers Ltd. and Tencent considering various options, including a buyout and taking the company private. In December, Reuters reported that the parties have been in talks with investors and advisors about how to structure a management-led buyout.
Insider Gaming also shared a list of games from Ubisoft’s pipeline that are expected to launch by the end of 2026:
- Splinter Cell Remake;
- Far Cry 7;
- Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Remake;
- Assassin’s Creed Hexe;
- Ghost Recon Over;
- Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake.
Other projects, including the Rayman remake, The Division 3, Beyond Good and Evil 2, and another Assassin’s Creed remake, are scheduled for 2027 and beyond.