Is Ubisoft’s Search for Major Investors Enough to Boost Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Other Key Spin-offs?

Ubisoft appears to be on the hunt for financial partners for a new business venture, one that will leverage some of its most popular franchises such as Assassin’s Creed. This comes from a detailed report by Bloomberg, based on information from sources in the know.

The report suggests that Ubisoft, the well-known French video game company, is seeking bids for this new enterprise, which could be finalized by the end of the month. These bids would involve acquiring a minority stake, with Tencent—already holding a 9.99% share in Ubisoft—reportedly among those showing interest. Tencent has previously been a focal point in discussions about Ubisoft’s long-term strategies.

According to Bloomberg’s Dong Cao, Vinicy Chan, and Benoit Berthelot, Ubisoft aims for this new division to be valued even more highly than the primary company itself. However, it’s important to note that these negotiations are still in progress, and nothing has been definitively decided yet.

When contacted by Bloomberg, Ubisoft only shared details from its quarterly earnings, which included a statement that mentioned, “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.” Tencent chose not to comment on the matter.

If Bloomberg’s reporting holds true—and they have a solid reputation in such matters—Ubisoft’s strategy here is quite audacious. It seems the company plans to consolidate its prime assets into a new entity, potentially making their offerings more enticing to investors by isolating them from the company’s past controversies.

This structural change might not only add allure but also distance Ubisoft’s prized IPs from the shadow of recent legal troubles, including charges against former executives. These individuals were accused of psychological and sexual harassment, with the proceedings set to continue in June. Forming a separate entity could shield valuable properties from such negative associations, making them more attractive to potential backers.

How Assassin’s Creed: Shadows impacts these strategic endeavors remains a subject of speculation. Its success or failure, both critically and commercially, could profoundly influence Ubisoft’s fortunes. With Shadows being part of this new strategy, its performance is more critical than ever.

The launch of Assassin’s Creed: Shadows is set for March 20, leaving us with just a short wait to see how it fares and what repercussions it will have for Ubisoft’s broader strategy this year.