Has “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” Missed its Moment? Ubisoft Seeks Major Investors for Spin-Offs of Top Franchises

Ubisoft seems to be on the hunt for financial collaborators for a fresh business venture centering around some of its flagship franchises, such as Assassin’s Creed. This insight stems from a Bloomberg report, which sources the scoop from individuals close to the matter.

According to the report, the prominent French gaming company is keen on securing bids by the month’s end. The stakes these bids are targeting will be for a minority share in the new venture. Among the interested parties reportedly participating is Tencent, which already holds a 9.99% stake in Ubisoft. Tencent has previously been at the heart of discussions concerning Ubisoft’s future strategies.

Bloomberg journalists Dong Cao, Vinicy Chan, and Benoit Berthelot indicate that Ubisoft might be eyeing a valuation for this new offshoot that would surpass the worth of its main company. They caution, however, that these discussions are ongoing, and nothing is set in stone.

Upon reaching out for a statement, Bloomberg received Ubisoft’s quarterly earnings report, which included a note stating, “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.” Meanwhile, Tencent opted to remain silent and declined to comment.

If this report holds true—and given Bloomberg’s solid track record on similar matters, it likely does—it represents a daring maneuver by Ubisoft. By potentially moving its prized intellectual properties into a new business avenue, the company might be aiming to optimize its brand appeal, effectively separating its strongest franchises from the rest.

This strategy could serve to shield these valuable properties from some of Ubisoft’s reputational baggage, especially given recent legal issues involving former executives facing psychological and sexual harassment allegations. Divorcing the new entity from these negative associations might make it more attractive to potential backers.

One can’t help but speculate about how Assassin’s Creed: Shadows may influence these business dealings. The game’s success or failure, both critically and commercially, could play a pivotal role in either revitalizing or further unsettling Ubisoft’s fortunes. As Shadows is reportedly part of this new initiative, its performance has never been more critical.

With the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows slated for March 20, it won’t be long before we see how the game’s reception will shape Ubisoft’s trajectory in the months ahead.