Decline meh Ubisoft (Ubi fuckery general thread)

[Big_poppa_pump]

Perhaps someone else can finally take care of HoMM. Also wouldn't mind another single-player only Splinter Cell game.

Your anti multiplayer obsession cloud your mind because Spies Vs. Mercs is fun

 

[ghardy]

Why clown once when you can clown again. And again...

Ubisoft's Handling of Canned PlayStation Exclusive WiLD 'a Real Scandal', Says Director

[Emphasis added]

Some final, optimistic part of us always held out hope for WiLD; although we saw so little of Michel Ancel's lost title, we couldn't really tell you why. We got some closure on the game in August (a decade after it was announced), with developer Wild Sheep Studio confirming it was "no longer actively working on it." Now, one-time lead Ancel has dished some surprisingly juicy dirt on the game, which he described as suffering "an unfortunate fate".

Having left the industry back in 2020, Ancel recently spoke to Superpouvior (thanks, VGC) and finally shed some light on what went on for all those years. According to him: "In 2018, we had a very lovely playable version, but we took a long time to upgrade the game to PS5, which slowed down production. On Sony's side, there were major management changes, and the game was stopped."

Ancel alleges that things really went wrong when Ubisoft offered to take it over, and then bizarrely, Sony decided it really wanted to get WiLD back, even offering to double the game's budget. "Unfortunately, contracts with Ubisoft were advanced, and we turned down Sony's offer. What a shame." Things somehow managed to get even worse once Ubisoft Paris took charge, led by Tommy François, who would later be arrested after an investigation into the studio's toxic culture uncovered "systemic sexual violence". Ancel recalls that time:

"It was during this period that I burned out and, unfortunately, the game fell into the hands of Ubisoft’s editorial department in Paris, which was in chaos. I was no longer there to defend the game, which was crushed by people in this department asking for all sorts of changes without actually playing the game. A real scandal." Ancel explains the context of trying to create a game in this environment: "It’s important to understand that, at the time, the editorial department was in the midst of an explosion following the internal affairs surrounding Tommy François, who, incidentally, was in charge of WiLD."

Seemingly seeking vindication, Ancel says he would "be very happy" to share the 2018 playable demos for both WiLD and the somehow still languishing Beyond Good & Evil 2, which he described as "more than promising." Ancel says his professional burnout seriously affected his family life, which is why he left the industry in 2020. Following his departure, some former developers alleged that Beyond Good & Evil 2 had struggled due to Ancel's poor management.

 

[LeBIDJO]

Woke aside, what killed Ubisoft for me personally is their modern game design philosophy. Every single franchise now follows the same exact AC formula with an open world filled by several types of activities copypasted to complete absurdity. Basically, it does not matter what kind of genre and setting, they are always trying to make a Witcher 3 without any of the hard work that makes the content worth consuming.

What is even more hilarious is their monetization model of putting some artificial grindwalls and giving the player a microtransaction option to skip this gameplay. Literal "pay to not play".

 

[Fargus]

Yeah, on top of being woke their modern games are absolute chore for dumbfucks. They are all the same, repetitive and artificially streatched with 0 redeeming qualities and you feel like a drooling idiot afterwards. Definition of slop.

 

[Big_poppa_pump]

I’d like a for honor 2 or at least that system of combat used elsewhere they must have a patent on it because I never seen it anywhere else. It would be great in an RPG at least.

 

[Fedora Master]

Why clown once when you can clown again. And again...

Ubisoft's Handling of Canned PlayStation Exclusive WiLD 'a Real Scandal', Says Director

[Emphasis added]

Some final, optimistic part of us always held out hope for WiLD; although we saw so little of Michel Ancel's lost title, we couldn't really tell you why. We got some closure on the game in August (a decade after it was announced), with developer Wild Sheep Studio confirming it was "no longer actively working on it." Now, one-time lead Ancel has dished some surprisingly juicy dirt on the game, which he described as suffering "an unfortunate fate".

Having left the industry back in 2020, Ancel recently spoke to Superpouvior (thanks, VGC) and finally shed some light on what went on for all those years. According to him: "In 2018, we had a very lovely playable version, but we took a long time to upgrade the game to PS5, which slowed down production. On Sony's side, there were major management changes, and the game was stopped."

Ancel alleges that things really went wrong when Ubisoft offered to take it over, and then bizarrely, Sony decided it really wanted to get WiLD back, even offering to double the game's budget. "Unfortunately, contracts with Ubisoft were advanced, and we turned down Sony's offer. What a shame." Things somehow managed to get even worse once Ubisoft Paris took charge, led by Tommy François, who would later be arrested after an investigation into the studio's toxic culture uncovered "systemic sexual violence". Ancel recalls that time:

"It was during this period that I burned out and, unfortunately, the game fell into the hands of Ubisoft’s editorial department in Paris, which was in chaos. I was no longer there to defend the game, which was crushed by people in this department asking for all sorts of changes without actually playing the game. A real scandal." Ancel explains the context of trying to create a game in this environment: "It’s important to understand that, at the time, the editorial department was in the midst of an explosion following the internal affairs surrounding Tommy François, who, incidentally, was in charge of WiLD."

Seemingly seeking vindication, Ancel says he would "be very happy" to share the 2018 playable demos for both WiLD and the somehow still languishing Beyond Good & Evil 2, which he described as "more than promising." Ancel says his professional burnout seriously affected his family life, which is why he left the industry in 2020. Following his departure, some former developers alleged that Beyond Good & Evil 2 had struggled due to Ancel's poor management.

So do you get paid to shit these out or...?

 

[Big_poppa_pump]

Why clown once when you can clown again. And again...

Ubisoft's Handling of Canned PlayStation Exclusive WiLD 'a Real Scandal', Says Director

[Emphasis added]

Some final, optimistic part of us always held out hope for WiLD; although we saw so little of Michel Ancel's lost title, we couldn't really tell you why. We got some closure on the game in August (a decade after it was announced), with developer Wild Sheep Studio confirming it was "no longer actively working on it." Now, one-time lead Ancel has dished some surprisingly juicy dirt on the game, which he described as suffering "an unfortunate fate".

Having left the industry back in 2020, Ancel recently spoke to Superpouvior (thanks, VGC) and finally shed some light on what went on for all those years. According to him: "In 2018, we had a very lovely playable version, but we took a long time to upgrade the game to PS5, which slowed down production. On Sony's side, there were major management changes, and the game was stopped."

Ancel alleges that things really went wrong when Ubisoft offered to take it over, and then bizarrely, Sony decided it really wanted to get WiLD back, even offering to double the game's budget. "Unfortunately, contracts with Ubisoft were advanced, and we turned down Sony's offer. What a shame." Things somehow managed to get even worse once Ubisoft Paris took charge, led by Tommy François, who would later be arrested after an investigation into the studio's toxic culture uncovered "systemic sexual violence". Ancel recalls that time:

"It was during this period that I burned out and, unfortunately, the game fell into the hands of Ubisoft’s editorial department in Paris, which was in chaos. I was no longer there to defend the game, which was crushed by people in this department asking for all sorts of changes without actually playing the game. A real scandal." Ancel explains the context of trying to create a game in this environment: "It’s important to understand that, at the time, the editorial department was in the midst of an explosion following the internal affairs surrounding Tommy François, who, incidentally, was in charge of WiLD."

Seemingly seeking vindication, Ancel says he would "be very happy" to share the 2018 playable demos for both WiLD and the somehow still languishing Beyond Good & Evil 2, which he described as "more than promising." Ancel says his professional burnout seriously affected his family life, which is why he left the industry in 2020. Following his departure, some former developers alleged that Beyond Good & Evil 2 had struggled due to Ancel's poor management.

So do you get paid to shit these out or...?

Its just a trend where guys just shit out articles but then uses the text editor to make it look SERIOUS, I saw this a lot on 8chan and now its spread to what forums are still alive.

 

[ghardy]

When you can't make up your mind when playing an Ubisoft game...

Assassin's Creed Shadows' Canon Mode Will Pick Canon Dialogue Choices For You

[Emphasis added]

Ubisoft has revealed that it's including something it calls "Canon Mode" in upcoming action RPG Assassin's Creed Shadows, and if you've ever wondered which dialogue option your character would actually pick, this one's for you.

In a recent Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) session, creative director Jonathan Dumont says Canon Mode was included to address the fact that Assassin's Creed's fanbase is "divided on branching dialogues".

If you select Canon Mode, then dialogue choices will be made for you so that you don't have to worry about whether what you're doing is in character or not. Dumont says this should give players a "choice free experience", which feels like a slightly odd way of wording it.

When it comes to the length of the game, Dumont says that while it's "hard to evaluate" such things in open-world games due to player variables, he thinks Shadows' main campaign is "comparable to Origins/Odyssey and Valhalla" in terms of length.

Again, that feels like a slightly odd answer to give when considering that these three games take different amounts of time to beat. Origins' campaign sits at around 25-30 hours, while Odyssey's takes about 45 hours and Valhalla's can take up to 60.

Suffice it to say that you're probably not in for a short ride with Assassin's Creed Shadows, so hopefully it doesn't have the same level of bloat that Odyssey and Valhalla could often exhibit.

The AMA offers plenty of other interesting information about Assassin's Creed Shadows; it'll feature an "immersive mode" with a full Japanese voiceover, for instance, and its modern story will be "limited" and connected to the new Animus Hub, although we'll get more on this "later".



Assassin's Creed Shadows is the latest mainline installment in the long-running Assassin's Creed series. Set in Sengoku-era Japan, it'll follow the RPG stylings of the likes of Odyssey and Valhalla and not the back-to-basics approach of last year's Mirage.

Since its announcement, the game has garnered its fair share of controversy. Some players objected to the inclusion of historical figure Yasuke as one of the main playable characters, an inclusion Ubisoft says demonstrates its ability to take "creative license" to construct "engaging and immersive experiences".

Assassin's Creed Shadows also prompted outcry when a concept art book was found to have appropriated images from a Japanese group without permission, and when an "insensitive" figurine depicting a one-legged Torii gate was pulled from sale in October.

You'll be able to check out Assassin's Creed Shadows when it launches on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S in February next year, having been delayed from its original November release date.

 

[Hammer Of The Heretics]

What.

A "choice free experience"? Bitch, if I wanted a choice free experience I'd watch a movie. It would cost less, take less time and be 52% less likely to insult my intelligence.

 

[Rövtomte]

Are players really that retarded?

 

[mediocrepoet]

Are players really that retarded?

Go back and look at Bioware dev remarks in the Hamburger Helper days.

 

[Gerrard]

Are players really that retarded?

No. They're worse.

 

[ghardy]

New Report Details Two Far Cry Projects In Development At Ubisoft

[Emphasis added]

A new report from Insider Gaming has provided some fresh details on the future of Far Cry, as Ubisoft continues work on two upcoming projects for its open-world FPS franchise. We first heard about these two projects over a year ago - but we now have some extra details on what's being planned over at Ubisoft Montreal.

According to the outlet, 'Far Cry 7' is currently dubbed Project Blackbird, while an extraction-based multiplayer spin-off is still internally titled Project Maverick - as it was last year. Both games have reportedly been delayed internally, from 2025 to 2026 release windows.

In terms of what you can expect from these Far Cry titles, Insider Gaming has given us a bit more insight here. Project Blackbird "will now see the player have to rescue his family (NOT played by Cillian Murphy), who have been kidnapped by a conspiracy cult", while Maverick "takes place in the Alaskan wilderness, will see players fight one another, animals, and the harsh weather to survive".

While these scenarios sound typically Far Cry, it does appear that Ubisoft is planning to shake the formula up quite a bit. The report goes on to say that "both games have had a significant overhaul to their movement systems, too, including the addition of tactical sprinting, sliding, vaulting, and more" - and that the player "has 24 real-life hours (72 hours in-game) to rescue their family" in FC7, meaning we might have an in-game timer of some sort involved with the next mainline entry.

Of course, it goes without saying that this is all reported information and plans could absolutely change - especially if internal release dates have been pushed back. After a [by]-the-numbers Far Cry 6 though, we're hopeful that Ubisoft is indeed planning a bit of a shakeup for its two-decade old FPS series.

 

[lycanwarrior]

Year 2 Content is Planned for Ubisoft's Skull and Bones​

https://insider-gaming.com/skull-and-bones-year-2/

Ubisoft plans to release year 2 content for its quadruple A game Skull and Bones, despite believers thinking the game is dead.

 

[ghardy]

When you live in Clowntown...

Ubisoft teeters on brink: Massive debt and failed launches threaten future

[Emphasis added]

Ubisoft, a well-known game developer, is facing the threat of bankruptcy. Financial and operational problems, including a decline in stock value and unsuccessful releases, threaten the company's future. Net debt has risen to $1.5 billion, while cash reserves have dropped to $972 million, reports thatparkplace.com.

...

The stock value has declined by 80% over the past five years, which worries investors.

One of the main issues is the unsuccessful game releases, such as "Star Wars Outlaws," which did not meet sales expectations. Ubisoft made the decision to release the game on Steam, which can be seen as a desperate move. Furthermore, operational costs related to employing over 18,600 employees amount to nearly $800 million.

...

"In the past five years, the company's shares have lost about 80% of their value and are now priced at just $13. This is one of the lowest levels in the company's history, and investor confidence in Ubisoft's ability to recover diminishes with each quarter," adds ithardware.pl.

Ubisoft is trying to save the situation by delaying releases and introducing fixes to games, as in the case of "Assassin’s Creed Shadows." However, analysts are skeptical of the company's ability to cover debts. Rumors are circulating about a possible takeover by Tencent, which could mean the end for Ubisoft. Tencent is an international corporation based in China.

 

[itsme]

https://www.pcgamer.com/games/actio...lutely-dire-2024-and-desperately-needs-a-win/

Following a rough 2023, which saw Ubisoft wrestling with poor financial results, several cancellations, under-performing games, layoffs, and CEO Yves Guillemot effectively putting all the responsibility on developers rather than looking inwards, the publisher has failed to right the ship. 2024 was an absolutely dire year for Ubisoft.

Once a powerhouse publisher, Ubisoft might still be churning out the big blockbuster games, but judging by the last couple of years, and especially 2024, it seems to be incapable of getting a win or turning things around. Even when it does release games one would expect to be successes, it just doesn't seem to be able to attract players. It's hard to imagine how the last 12 months could have been worse.


To give you a rough idea of how well it's been going, here's a chronological list of what's been going on at Ubisoft:

• Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora failed to bring in the players
• Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown underperformed
• Skull and Bones didn't make a splash
• The Division: Heartland was cancelled
• Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time was pushed back to 2026
• Star Wars Outlaws didn't set the galaxy on fire
• Assassin's Creed Shadows was delayed until 2025
• The Lost Crown team was disbanded
• XDefiant is shutting down
• French employees went on strike
• Ubisoft is reportedly up for sale
• 744 staff have been laid off since October '23

It's… not great.

 

[lightbane]

Ubisoft being bought by say Tencent isn't better, as that's a step closer to the Chinese dominating the gaming market, and once that happens, expect monetization mechanics that will make the horse armor DLCs look pleasant.

 

[Baron Dupek]

https://thatparkplace.com/ubisoft-value/

Ubisoft Value Tanks: Market Cap Dropped 85% From 2021 to 2025​

Once a titan in the gaming industry, Ubisoft has experienced a dramatic and concerning decline in value over the past four years. From a market capitalization of $12.17 billion in January 2021, the company’s value plummeted to a mere $1.78 billion by January 2025.

This represents an alarming loss of approximately 85% of its market value, underscoring severe financial turmoil and strategic missteps that have left the Assassin’s Creed developer struggling to maintain its foothold in a highly competitive industry.

In January 2021, Ubisoft stood strong with a market cap of $12.17 billion. This reflected its status as a powerhouse in the gaming world. However, by January 2024, the company’s value had been cut by over 74%, dropping to $3.14 billion.

The downward trajectory continued unabated into 2025, where the market cap further decreased by nearly 43% from the previous year, settling at $1.78 billion. This total reduction of $10.39 billion over four years highlights deep-rooted issues within the company’s operations and strategy.

When we factor in their most recent reported loans from March 2024, totaling $2.71 billion—likely higher now due to updated rates and additional borrowing not yet reflected in the valuation—Ubisoft’s financial position seems to have worsened compared to 2024.

The company’s inability to sustain liquidity sufficient to cover its mounting debt is exacerbated by the impending release of Assassins Creed: Shadows in February, a game that has already garnered significant negative reception.

If Shadows flops, it could cripple Ubisoft’s ability to secure further loans to sustain operations through 2025. With its current valuation-to-debt ratio, no bank would be likely to extend additional credit without a solid assurance of repayment. Unless a miracle occurs, Shadows could deepen Ubisoft’s financial woes and potentially push the company toward bankruptcy.

Industry expert Joost van Dreunen, founder of SuperData, has voiced a grim prognosis for Ubisoft, suggesting that the company is on the verge of privatization and dismantling in 2025.

He points out that Ubisoft’s share price has nosedived, making it an attractive target for takeover.

“Its valuable assets—particularly Rainbow Six Siege and the Assassin’s Creed franchise—could be worth more separately than together, he said. “The upcoming Assassin’s Creed: Shadows faces stiff competition from PlayStation’s Ghost of Yotei, and recent failures suggest deeper organizational issues beyond individual game performance.”

Ubisoft’s strategic missteps have significantly contributed to its financial decline. Recent game releases, such as Star Wars: Outlaws, have fallen short of market expectations, with preorders reportedly abysmal and sales figures remaining undisclosed—a red flag for financial instability.

The decision to release Outlaws on Steam shortly after launch, deviating from the exclusive Ubisoft Connect platform strategy used for successful titles like Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, suggests a desperate attempt to salvage sales and improve liquidity. This move indicates the company lacks confidence in its own distribution channels along with an inability to maintain strategic consistency.

Financially, Ubisoft is grappling with mounting debt and declining revenue.

As of its latest financial report, Ubisoft’s non-IFRS net debt stands at €1.1 billion, and its IFRS net debt has risen to €1.4 billion, up sharply from €880.8 million the previous year. With cash reserves dwindling to €932 million, the company is struggling to generate sufficient revenue to offset its borrowing costs.

Additionally, the estimated annual cost of €746.6 million for maintaining an 18,666-strong workforce is unsustainable given the declining revenues and increasing debt burden.

Management and organizational issues further exacerbate Ubisoft’s predicament.

Van Dreunen criticizes Ubisoft’s outdated development approach, which fails to engage players and build a strong community. That’s a necessity in the modern gaming landscape.

The shutdown of XDefiant is not merely a failed launch, but a symptom of a broader problem: Ubisoft’s inability to adapt its distribution and development strategies to contemporary demands.

Moreover, the costly development of Skull & Bones, which has reportedly consumed between $650 and $850 million over a decade, highlights inefficiencies in resource allocation and project management. This project, alongside the cancellation of multiplayer games like XDefiant, has drained financial reserves without delivering expected returns.

Cultural and ideological overreach has also played a role in Ubisoft’s downfall. The company’s intense focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives has alienated a portion of its core fanbase. Overindulgence in DEI without balancing other strategic priorities has led to disenchantment among loyal customers and investors, contributing to the erosion of Ubisoft’s market confidence.

Workforce challenges further complicate Ubisoft’s financial struggles. The company has been forced to hire external contractors due to an overstaffed and inexperienced internal workforce.

This reliance on external talent not only inflates production costs but also leads to inefficiencies, as many of these contractors lack the necessary experience to contribute effectively to game development. This imbalance has resulted in poorly executed gameplay and increasing production costs, further straining Ubisoft’s already precarious financial situation.

Adding to these multifaceted challenges is the looming threat of bankruptcy.

According to a recent exclusive story by That Park Place writer Francesco Solbakk, Ubisoft’s financial woes are so severe that bankruptcy in 2025 appears imminent if drastic changes are not implemented. The company’s escalating debt, declining cash reserves, and poor stock performance have significantly weakened its financial standing. Analysts estimate Ubisoft’s credit rating has plummeted to CCC, a level that indicates imminent bankruptcy unless immediate and positive changes occur.

The potential privatization and dismantling of Ubisoft have attracted interest from major players like Tencent. However, a Tencent buyout may not be the lifeline Ubisoft desperately needs.

Instead of acquiring Ubisoft’s corporate structure, Tencent might find more value in purchasing its intellectual properties through a bankruptcy auction, leaving Ubisoft to declare bankruptcy without a sustainable path forward. This scenario would mark a tragic end for a company that once stood at the pinnacle of the gaming industry, now reduced to battling insurmountable financial and organizational challenges.
---------------------------------

So guys, please, please please please buy more Ubisoft games, otherwise the people who called you bigots, dinosaurs, racists, homophobes and nazis may not have a job tomorrow.


Meanwhile, gamers: “Hey Ubi, can we have new Splinter Cell?”

Ubi: “no, try this GaaS”

<hyperscape shuts down>

gamers: “Hey Ubi, can we have new Splinter Cell?”

Ubi: “no, try this AAAA GaaS”

<skull & bones take like 7 years to make and flops>

gamers: “Hey Ubi, can we have new Splinter Cell?”

Ubi: “no, try this GaaS”

<xdefiant shuts down>

Ubi: “we don’t know what gamers want”

 

[Gerrard]

A lot of the time the gamers don't know what they want either.

 

[Fargus]

Good thing some insane overpaid ivory tower prick, diversity hire jamal and karen that works at HR know perfectly what gamers want. If not they can always ask spiteful troons or "death to whiteys" folk on twitter.

 

[mediocrepoet]

A lot of the time the gamers don't know what they want either.

Well, they seem to know what they don't want. Not making that would be a start.

 

[Inec0rn]

Please go bankrupt, please go bankrupt, please..

 

[The people of Duckburg]

My mental image of Ubisoft is still that company that made charming Rayman platformers, Sands of Time and a few Splinter Cell games. Yet every article mentions that they're the ones that made Assassin's Creed sequels and some online shooters. It's feels so off that everyone hoping for a Ubisoft revival seems to want them to go back to making more AC sequels and whatever that propaganda-filled shooter was called. No, unless they go back to making games with some heart to them, I don't care if they go under. The first AC was interesting because it was fairly experimental. That doesn't mean I want infinite sequels that make less and less sense.

 

[InD_ImaginE]

Shadows will the one determining Ubisoft future

If it doesn't explode in popularity giving enough sales to keep the company going, stock gonna drop even more and it is 100% bankrupt or sold to 3rd party (Tencent maybe)

In any case we will see massive layoffs never seen before in the gaming industry. 18,000 employees is already massive before the layoffs trend. I easily see new owner cutting at least one third of that

 

[True Ukrainian]

Tencent has cooled on buying Ubisoft after the Guillmonts insisted on remaining in control. If Tencent is still interested they will probably wait for a bankruptcy and buy up the assets, not the company.