Ubisoft, the renowned gaming company behind major franchises like Assassin’s Creed and Rainbow Six, may face a challenging situation in 2025, prompting potential sales of these valuable intellectual properties due to a series of lackluster project performances.
In a recent post on his personal blog, Joost Van Druenen, the founder and former CEO of SuperData, expressed concerns about Ubisoft’s future. He suggested that the company might inevitably move towards privatization or disbandment by 2025 as a result of its current trajectory.
Troubling Forecasts for Ubisoft
Van Druenen pointed to several key factors contributing to this dire outlook, including the disappointing performance of Star Wars Outlaws and Ubisoft’s announcement in December regarding the termination of the first-person shooter XDefiant in 2025.
He noted that since last year, Ubisoft’s share price has severely dropped from $28.19 to $12.30, making the company a prime target for takeover bids. Van Druenen emphasized that their “valuable assets,”specifically Assassin’s Creed and Rainbow Six, might have a greater collective worth if sold separately.
Although Assassin’s Creed Shadows, recently announced to be delayed from 2024 to 2025, is meant to lift Ubisoft’s fortunes, Van Druenen remains skeptical. He mentioned that it will face tough competition from PlayStation’s upcoming title, Ghost of Yotei.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows has been delayed to 2025.
Further analyzing Ubisoft’s challenges, Van Druenen attributed the company’s struggles to its “stubbornly outdated” approach in a gaming market that increasingly demands player engagement and community involvement. He warned that failure to adapt could further alienate investors and gamers alike.
While efforts to polish Shadows aim to ensure a more seamless release, he argued that these changes are unlikely to restore the overall erosion of trust among players. “The broader challenge remains,” he stated.
External reports corroborate Van Druenen’s forewarnings. On December 6, Reuters revealed that Ubisoft stakeholders are contemplating a potential buyout, although they are considering keeping majority control under the Guillemot family.
Tencent stands as Ubisoft’s largest individual stakeholder after the Guillemot family. Sources from Reuters indicated that the Chinese tech giant is still deliberating whether to participate in a potential buyout and whether to increase its share in the company.
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