Is It Too Late for Assassin’s Creed Shadows? Ubisoft Seeks Major Investors for Spin-Offs of Flagship IPs

Apparently, Ubisoft is on the hunt for financial partners for a fresh business venture that’s set to leverage some of its most popular franchises, including Assassin’s Creed. This scoop comes courtesy of a Bloomberg report, which cites insiders familiar with the situation.

Bloomberg suggests that the renowned French gaming company is aiming to secure bids for this new project by the end of the month. These bids are expected to be for a minority stake, and interestingly, one of the players in this scenario is Tencent. Tencent is already in the Ubisoft mix with a 9.99% stake, so their interest fits the ongoing narrative about Ubisoft’s strategic direction.

Bloomberg’s journalists Dong Cao, Vinicy Chan, and Benoit Berthelot note that Ubisoft might be chasing a valuation for this spin-off that rivals the size of its main company. However, they also mention that everything is still in the works and nothing is set in stone.

In response to Bloomberg’s request for comments, Ubisoft provided their quarterly earnings, which included a statement highlighting their ongoing review of “various transformational strategic and capitalistic options” aimed at maximizing value for their assets and franchises. On the other hand, Tencent opted to keep silent on the matter.

If Bloomberg’s insights ring true, this is a bold strategy for Ubisoft. Carving out its top-performing franchises and placing them under a new umbrella could be seen as refining their offering to appeal to potential partners.

This move could also distance the prized IPs from some negative historical baggage. It wasn’t long ago that three former Ubisoft execs were facing serious allegations of psychological and sexual harassment. While the trial is adjourned until June, crafting a separate entity might shield these valuable properties from past controversies, making them more attractive to investors.

There’s also curiosity about how upcoming releases like Assassin’s Creed: Shadows might influence these business efforts. This game could either boost Ubisoft’s resurgence or contribute to further decline, depending on its reception. Given that Assassin’s Creed is part of the new venture’s portfolio, its success is crucial.

With the release date for Assassin’s Creed: Shadows set for March 20, we’ll soon see its impact on both the game’s performance and Ubisoft’s broader fortunes in the coming year.