Decline meh Ubisoft (Ubi fuckery general thread)

[Drakron]

Its the expected as they prop up their game sales at release and then they drop under projections because said projections are inflated simply to raise the forecast.

 

[Irata]

That dude is a CCP shill. I made the mistake of skimming his other posts to see if he had anything else like those linked.

 

[Gerrard]

Steep is 33% off 7 weeks after release.

:vivelafrance:

Thank you early adopters.

Ghost Recon Breakpoint is such a monumental failure that it is now 20-30% off, 25 days after release.

 

[Rahdulan]

It keeps happening. Record franchise game sales? Fuck it, switch to F2P and nickel and dime everyone with microtransactions instead.
https://www.videogameschronicle.com...to-focus-on-more-high-end-free-to-play-games/

Ubisoft says it’s changing strategy to focus on more ‘high-end free-to-play’ games
Assassin’s Creed firm says it will no longer rely on 3-4 AAA games each year

Ubisoft is shifting away from its traditional strategy of releasing 3-4 premium AAA titles each year, but plans to launch “high-end free-to-play” games for all its biggest franchises.

The company provided an update on its game development strategy during its full-year earnings call on Tuesday, when it said it intends to be less reliant on AAA releases as part of its overall product mix.

“In line with the evolution of our high-quality line-up that is increasingly diverse, we are moving on from our prior comment regarding releasing 3-4 premium AAAs per year,” said Ubisoft’s chief financial officer Frederick Duguet.

“It is indeed no longer a proper indication of our value creation dynamics. For example, our expectation for Just Dance and Riders Republic are consistent with some of the industry’s AAA performers.

“Additionally, we are building high-end free-to-play games to be trending towards AAA ambitions over the long-term,” he added.

“This is purely a financial communication evolution and doesn’t change the fact that we continue to expect a high cadence of content delivery including powerful premium and free-to-play new releases.”

Last week Ubisoft announced plans to expand The Division with new free-to-play and mobile games.

Tom Clancy’s The Division: Heartland is being led by Red Storm Entertainment and is described as a standalone experience set for release on PlayStation, Xbox and PC. No details were revealed on the separate mobile game.

“In terms of Heartland, the way we think about building the audience reach growth for our biggest franchises, so starting with The Division, is to come with high quality free-to-play games,” Duguet said on Tuesday’s earnings call.

“We recognise this is the first year we are coming meaningfully into the space. That’s why we need to take reasonable assumptions for year one on the top line as well as on the contribution, but of course we want to make sure this is a strong contributor in the long-term to the expansion of the overall brand on console and PC, and then of course will come mobile at a later time.”

Duguet elaborated on the new direction: “We think that we have a great opportunity to meaningfully expand the audiences of our biggest franchises.

“We have taken the time to learn from what we did last year with Hyper Scape. We are also learning of course with the launch we’ll be making of Roller Champions and we’ve been learning a lot with Brawlhalla, which is fast growing.

“And we think it is now the time to come with high quality free-to-play games across all our biggest franchises across all platforms, but of course it will take time before proving it in a more assertive way. That’s why we want to be cautious in year one. If we are successful, that can have a very meaningful impact on the value creation of Ubisoft.”

The publisher said on Tuesday that the current fiscal year ending on March 31, 2022 will include the releases of Far Cry 6 and Rainbow Six Quarantine by September 30, plus Riders Republic, The Division Heartland and Roller Champions.

And it confirmed during its earnings call that it has no AAA games scheduled for release during the second half of the fiscal year, which includes the Christmas season.

Open-world pirate game Skull & Bones was planned for release during the current fiscal year, but Ubisoft said on Tuesday that it had been delayed yet again. The game is now scheduled for release during its next fiscal year beginning in April 2022.

Ubisoft also said the Assassin’s Creed franchise recorded its strongest sales year to date in the company’s last fiscal year.

“What we see with Assassin’s Creed is that we have a fantastic recipe and that’s why we decided to expand the [Valhalla] post-launch programme to make it the biggest, longest, strongest that we have ever had on the franchise,” Duguet said.

 

[LESS T_T]

Well they have to be salty. Ubisoft is probably the only major publisher that doesn't have a live service cash cow like Fortnite, Apex Legends, CoD: Warzone, and GTA Online.

 

[Gerrard]

And they've been shoving microtransactions into full price games so far anyway.

 

[CrunchyHemorrhoids]

^"People are willing to pay for more of what they love."
Lying cunt, ubisoft's time-saver mtx is people paying for less of what they hate.

 

[Morgoth]

This bubble just keeps getting bigger and bigger. But it just won't bitchin' pop!

 

[Gerrard]

Infinitron: "Make new threads"
Also Infinitron: "Don't make new threads"

 

[vonAchdorf]

This bubble just keeps getting bigger and bigger. But it just won't bitchin' pop!

The Ubisoft stock is losing 10% today and weren't exactly stellar performers compared to other gaming companies.

But you probably assume that there's a video game and games as a service bubble in general. I don't really think so. Boomers paid $100/mo for something stupid like cable TV.

 

[Joggerino]

This bubble just keeps getting bigger and bigger. But it just won't bitchin' pop!

Every year they get new customers (kids) and they have no idea what kind of shit their parents are buying them.

 

[lycanwarrior]

Well they have to be salty. Ubisoft is probably the only major publisher that doesn't have a live service cash cow like Fortnite, Apex Legends, CoD: Warzone, and GTA Online.

Rainbow Six Siege is a fairly popular and long-running cash cow for them. Not sure if it is quite as big as the games mentioned above though.

Live service elements have already made their way into their other franchises such as Assassin's Creed, Watch Dogs and Immortals Fenyx Rising.

 

[Trojan_generic]

Well they have to be salty. Ubisoft is probably the only major publisher that doesn't have a live service cash cow like Fortnite, Apex Legends, CoD: Warzone, and GTA Online.

Rainbow Six Siege is a fairly popular and long-running cash cow for them. Not sure if it is quite as big as the games mentioned above though.

Live service elements have already made their way into their other franchises such as Assassin's Creed, Watch Dogs and Immortals Fenyx Rising.

Division 2 was a fail but I understand Division 1 was quite popular. What I don't get is why do you (or I) keep playing shit where every type of weapon you have becomes obsolete the moment you level up. And that's like 4-10 times a day in the beginning.

 

[lycanwarrior]

Well they have to be salty. Ubisoft is probably the only major publisher that doesn't have a live service cash cow like Fortnite, Apex Legends, CoD: Warzone, and GTA Online.

Rainbow Six Siege is a fairly popular and long-running cash cow for them. Not sure if it is quite as big as the games mentioned above though.

Live service elements have already made their way into their other franchises such as Assassin's Creed, Watch Dogs and Immortals Fenyx Rising.

Division 2 was a fail but I understand Division 1 was quite popular. What I don't get is why do you (or I) keep playing shit where every type of weapon you have becomes obsolete the moment you level up. And that's like 4-10 times a day in the beginning.

While Div2 was a failure at launch, it looks like it might done well enough (perhaps from discounts or MTX) for Ubisoft to continue supporting it as it is getting new gamemode, a Free-to-play game, a mobile version and even a novel towards the later part of this year.

As for other your comment, it all started with Diablo 1. Then Borderlands applied to same formula for what is now considered the looter shooter genre.

 

[lycanwarrior]

New UBISOFT press release from president Yves Guillemot in response to claims that are they are not doing enough regarding sexual harassment culture:

https://news.ubisoft.com/en-us/article/6eNE6mnqcXT2qWS2vFWpZV/a-year-of-change-at-ubisoft

Not that I think anyone here cares (I certainly don't LOL) but it is funny seeing the Blue Twitter Checkmarks foaming at the mouth and wanting blood in the water...

 

[Dexter]

https://news.ubisoft.com/en-us/article/6eNE6mnqcXT2qWS2vFWpZV/a-year-of-change-at-ubisoft

Last June, we faced the fact that not all team members were experiencing the safe and inclusive workplace that we had always intended Ubisoft to be. Since then, we have engaged in a company-wide effort to listen, learn and build a roadmap for a better Ubisoft for all.

[...]

More than 14,000 employees participated in a range of group-wide assessments, including an anonymous questionnaire, and 2,000 employees took part in focus groups and listening sessions. We partnered with Accenture to conduct a thorough audit of our global HR organization, processes and policies. As a result, we strengthened our non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies. We also have created new HR processes and fully updated our internal Code of Fair Conduct. The Code is clearer, more comprehensive, and more actionable. It will be mandatory for all team members to sign when it is published in June. Our teams worldwide have already participated in the initial anti-harassment training sessions. We are also deploying additional mandatory training modules specifically on the topics of anti-harassment and anti-discrimination.

We have recently implemented a new performance criterion to our compensation scheme with specific expectations for managers. This new attribute will focus on our ability to care for people, behave inclusively, and foster a safe and respectful work environment.

Additionally, we have appointed and recruited new leaders at the executive level.

Anika Grant arrived as our new Chief People Officer in April. She is focusing on strengthening our global corporate culture and our HR organization, ensuring that all our teams can thrive in an environment that nurtures a culture of respect, diversity, inclusion and collective wellbeing.

Belén Essioux-Trujillo joined the Ubisoft Board of Directors as a new independent member in December. She will further enrich the group with additional valuable HR experience and insights.

Lidwine Sauer, who was appointed last July to the new role of Head of Workplace Culture, has been piloting the listening and feedback sessions internally, and has most recently launched a global initiative to clarify our values.

Raashi Sikka joined in February in the newly created position of VP of Global Diversity & Inclusion. Her role is to help ensure D&I is at the heart of everything we do. Notably, she is providing a strategic framework and resources to empower ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) and to encourage team members across Ubisoft to constantly challenge their perspectives. Raashi also leads a global D&I Content Review Committee that has been set up to support teams in respect to diverse and inclusive content.

Veteran Ubisoft developer Bio Jade Adam Granger was promoted to VP of Editorial with the ambition of adding more diverse perspectives to the creative leadership of our games and franchises.

Studio leadership teams continue to evolve, with a number of new appointments in recent months. Most recently, we announced that Lisa Opie will soon be joining Ubisoft Reflections and Ubisoft Leamington as Managing Director. Ubisoft Montreal, our biggest studio, committed last year to an overhaul of the studio's management structure to support our overall growth strategy and instill a more diversified vision; as part of this strategy Catherine Lemyre and Leslie Quinton have joined Ubisoft Montreal as VP Talent and VP Communications respectively.

[...]

I'm sure this is going to lead to more quality, better products and overall much improved games along with a much better and carefree workplace for everyone with them in charge. These people look like they understand "games" and the concept of the word "fun". Good luck UbiShit.

 

[Andnjord]

Anika Grant: global corporate culture and our HR organization [...} a culture of respect, diversity, inclusion and collective wellbeing.

Belén Essioux-Trujillo: enrich the group with additional valuable HR experience

Lidwine Sauer: Head of Workplace Culture [...] global initiative to clarify our values.

Raashi Sikka: VP of Global Diversity & Inclusion [...] ensure D&I is at the heart of everything we do. [...] encourage team members across Ubisoft to constantly challenge their perspectives [...] also leads a global D&I Content Review Committee

Bio Jade Adam Granger [...] adding more diverse perspectives to the creative leadership

You poor poor Ubisoft, looks like the woke corporate grifters have found a new prey.

 

[Neuromancer]

Bio Jade Adam Granger [...] adding more diverse perspectives to the creative leadership

Who in their right mind calls himself with such an idiotic name?

...

Em....never mind.

 

[markec]

https://news.ubisoft.com/en-us/article/6eNE6mnqcXT2qWS2vFWpZV/a-year-of-change-at-ubisoft

Last June, we faced the fact that not all team members were experiencing the safe and inclusive workplace that we had always intended Ubisoft to be. Since then, we have engaged in a company-wide effort to listen, learn and build a roadmap for a better Ubisoft for all.

[...]

More than 14,000 employees participated in a range of group-wide assessments, including an anonymous questionnaire, and 2,000 employees took part in focus groups and listening sessions. We partnered with Accenture to conduct a thorough audit of our global HR organization, processes and policies. As a result, we strengthened our non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies. We also have created new HR processes and fully updated our internal Code of Fair Conduct. The Code is clearer, more comprehensive, and more actionable. It will be mandatory for all team members to sign when it is published in June. Our teams worldwide have already participated in the initial anti-harassment training sessions. We are also deploying additional mandatory training modules specifically on the topics of anti-harassment and anti-discrimination.

We have recently implemented a new performance criterion to our compensation scheme with specific expectations for managers. This new attribute will focus on our ability to care for people, behave inclusively, and foster a safe and respectful work environment.

Additionally, we have appointed and recruited new leaders at the executive level.

Anika Grant arrived as our new Chief People Officer in April. She is focusing on strengthening our global corporate culture and our HR organization, ensuring that all our teams can thrive in an environment that nurtures a culture of respect, diversity, inclusion and collective wellbeing.

Belén Essioux-Trujillo joined the Ubisoft Board of Directors as a new independent member in December. She will further enrich the group with additional valuable HR experience and insights.

Lidwine Sauer, who was appointed last July to the new role of Head of Workplace Culture, has been piloting the listening and feedback sessions internally, and has most recently launched a global initiative to clarify our values.

Raashi Sikka joined in February in the newly created position of VP of Global Diversity & Inclusion. Her role is to help ensure D&I is at the heart of everything we do. Notably, she is providing a strategic framework and resources to empower ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) and to encourage team members across Ubisoft to constantly challenge their perspectives. Raashi also leads a global D&I Content Review Committee that has been set up to support teams in respect to diverse and inclusive content.

Veteran Ubisoft developer Bio Jade Adam Granger was promoted to VP of Editorial with the ambition of adding more diverse perspectives to the creative leadership of our games and franchises.

Studio leadership teams continue to evolve, with a number of new appointments in recent months. Most recently, we announced that Lisa Opie will soon be joining Ubisoft Reflections and Ubisoft Leamington as Managing Director. Ubisoft Montreal, our biggest studio, committed last year to an overhaul of the studio's management structure to support our overall growth strategy and instill a more diversified vision; as part of this strategy Catherine Lemyre and Leslie Quinton have joined Ubisoft Montreal as VP Talent and VP Communications respectively.

[...]

I'm sure this is going to lead to more quality, better products and overall much improved games along with a much better and carefree workplace for everyone with them in charge. These people look like they understand "games" and the concept of the word "fun". Good luck UbiShit.

Good thing that Ubisoft has not released anything remotely interesting in the last decade.

 

[Morgoth]

Are these new characters from BGE2?

 

[catfood]

https://news.ubisoft.com/en-us/article/6eNE6mnqcXT2qWS2vFWpZV/a-year-of-change-at-ubisoft

Last June, we faced the fact that not all team members were experiencing the safe and inclusive workplace that we had always intended Ubisoft to be. Since then, we have engaged in a company-wide effort to listen, learn and build a roadmap for a better Ubisoft for all.

[...]

More than 14,000 employees participated in a range of group-wide assessments, including an anonymous questionnaire, and 2,000 employees took part in focus groups and listening sessions. We partnered with Accenture to conduct a thorough audit of our global HR organization, processes and policies. As a result, we strengthened our non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies. We also have created new HR processes and fully updated our internal Code of Fair Conduct. The Code is clearer, more comprehensive, and more actionable. It will be mandatory for all team members to sign when it is published in June. Our teams worldwide have already participated in the initial anti-harassment training sessions. We are also deploying additional mandatory training modules specifically on the topics of anti-harassment and anti-discrimination.

We have recently implemented a new performance criterion to our compensation scheme with specific expectations for managers. This new attribute will focus on our ability to care for people, behave inclusively, and foster a safe and respectful work environment.

Additionally, we have appointed and recruited new leaders at the executive level.

Anika Grant arrived as our new Chief People Officer in April. She is focusing on strengthening our global corporate culture and our HR organization, ensuring that all our teams can thrive in an environment that nurtures a culture of respect, diversity, inclusion and collective wellbeing.

Belén Essioux-Trujillo joined the Ubisoft Board of Directors as a new independent member in December. She will further enrich the group with additional valuable HR experience and insights.

Lidwine Sauer, who was appointed last July to the new role of Head of Workplace Culture, has been piloting the listening and feedback sessions internally, and has most recently launched a global initiative to clarify our values.

Raashi Sikka joined in February in the newly created position of VP of Global Diversity & Inclusion. Her role is to help ensure D&I is at the heart of everything we do. Notably, she is providing a strategic framework and resources to empower ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) and to encourage team members across Ubisoft to constantly challenge their perspectives. Raashi also leads a global D&I Content Review Committee that has been set up to support teams in respect to diverse and inclusive content.

Veteran Ubisoft developer Bio Jade Adam Granger was promoted to VP of Editorial with the ambition of adding more diverse perspectives to the creative leadership of our games and franchises.

Studio leadership teams continue to evolve, with a number of new appointments in recent months. Most recently, we announced that Lisa Opie will soon be joining Ubisoft Reflections and Ubisoft Leamington as Managing Director. Ubisoft Montreal, our biggest studio, committed last year to an overhaul of the studio's management structure to support our overall growth strategy and instill a more diversified vision; as part of this strategy Catherine Lemyre and Leslie Quinton have joined Ubisoft Montreal as VP Talent and VP Communications respectively.

[...]

I'm sure this is going to lead to more quality, better products and overall much improved games along with a much better and carefree workplace for everyone with them in charge. These people look like they understand "games" and the concept of the word "fun". Good luck UbiShit.

Good thing that Ubisoft has not released anything remotely interesting in the last decade.

The Rayman games were good.

 

[lycanwarrior]

https://news.ubisoft.com/en-us/article/6eNE6mnqcXT2qWS2vFWpZV/a-year-of-change-at-ubisoft

Last June, we faced the fact that not all team members were experiencing the safe and inclusive workplace that we had always intended Ubisoft to be. Since then, we have engaged in a company-wide effort to listen, learn and build a roadmap for a better Ubisoft for all.

[...]

More than 14,000 employees participated in a range of group-wide assessments, including an anonymous questionnaire, and 2,000 employees took part in focus groups and listening sessions. We partnered with Accenture to conduct a thorough audit of our global HR organization, processes and policies. As a result, we strengthened our non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies. We also have created new HR processes and fully updated our internal Code of Fair Conduct. The Code is clearer, more comprehensive, and more actionable. It will be mandatory for all team members to sign when it is published in June. Our teams worldwide have already participated in the initial anti-harassment training sessions. We are also deploying additional mandatory training modules specifically on the topics of anti-harassment and anti-discrimination.

We have recently implemented a new performance criterion to our compensation scheme with specific expectations for managers. This new attribute will focus on our ability to care for people, behave inclusively, and foster a safe and respectful work environment.

Additionally, we have appointed and recruited new leaders at the executive level.

Anika Grant arrived as our new Chief People Officer in April. She is focusing on strengthening our global corporate culture and our HR organization, ensuring that all our teams can thrive in an environment that nurtures a culture of respect, diversity, inclusion and collective wellbeing.

Belén Essioux-Trujillo joined the Ubisoft Board of Directors as a new independent member in December. She will further enrich the group with additional valuable HR experience and insights.

Lidwine Sauer, who was appointed last July to the new role of Head of Workplace Culture, has been piloting the listening and feedback sessions internally, and has most recently launched a global initiative to clarify our values.

Raashi Sikka joined in February in the newly created position of VP of Global Diversity & Inclusion. Her role is to help ensure D&I is at the heart of everything we do. Notably, she is providing a strategic framework and resources to empower ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) and to encourage team members across Ubisoft to constantly challenge their perspectives. Raashi also leads a global D&I Content Review Committee that has been set up to support teams in respect to diverse and inclusive content.

Veteran Ubisoft developer Bio Jade Adam Granger was promoted to VP of Editorial with the ambition of adding more diverse perspectives to the creative leadership of our games and franchises.

Studio leadership teams continue to evolve, with a number of new appointments in recent months. Most recently, we announced that Lisa Opie will soon be joining Ubisoft Reflections and Ubisoft Leamington as Managing Director. Ubisoft Montreal, our biggest studio, committed last year to an overhaul of the studio's management structure to support our overall growth strategy and instill a more diversified vision; as part of this strategy Catherine Lemyre and Leslie Quinton have joined Ubisoft Montreal as VP Talent and VP Communications respectively.

[...]

I'm sure this is going to lead to more quality, better products and overall much improved games along with a much better and carefree workplace for everyone with them in charge. These people look like they understand "games" and the concept of the word "fun". Good luck UbiShit.

Good thing that Ubisoft has not released anything remotely interesting in the last decade.

The Rayman games were good.

Unfortunately, it looks like the Rayman games are probably not going to be worked on by Ubisoft anymore. Probably due to platformers as a genre not being popular anymore as well as fewer opportunities for "monetization"...

 

[Oracscube]

Ubisoft reach a new low..
.. and skip to 27 minutes in, for some amazing gameplay
:D

 

[cretin]

Is there a writeup somewhere attempting to quantify the damage "diversity" hiring and environments have done to big businesses like this?

Like we all just assume it happens, but it would be nice to read someone attempting to put dollar figures on it. I find it pretty hard to believe the suits not noticing that they are wasting more money than ever and getting less back for it.

 

[MadMaxHellfire]

doing such work would surely be racist.