After much buzz last week about Ubisoft considering a takeover, the French giant has issued an official response.
While Ubisoft is reportedly showing alarming signs of poor health, Bloomberg reported last week that the Guillemot family is considering a takeover of the company by Chinese giant Tencent. After this loud rumor, the stock price reportedly experienced a positive boost. The publisher has now officially spoken out in a statement to Eurogamer to highlight the worrying situation it currently appears to be in.
Ubisoft officially responds to the latest takeover rumors
Business seems to have been pretty bad at Ubisoft lately. After the intergalactic disappointment of the launch of Star Wars Outlaws and other setbacks, the French giant’s shares were at dangerously low levels not seen in 11 years. The uproar surrounding Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the publisher’s next big title, hasn’t helped either. Between heated controversy and a postponement to February 2025, the journey to feudal Japan appears to be full of pitfalls. Shareholders even went so far as to demand radical and immediate measures, such as the removal of Yves Guillemot as the company’s CEO.
Last week, Bloomberg suggested that Ubisoft was seriously considering a takeover by Tencent. With the added bonus of a possible privatization of the group and thus a withdrawal from the stock market. The French giant has since returned this report to give Eurogamer an official response. “ Ubisoft has noted recent speculation about the company’s possible interests. It regularly examines all strategic options in the interests of its shareholders and will inform the market in due course. The company also states that management is currently focused on executing its strategy. This involves two main industries: open-world adventures and game-as-a-service experiences. ».
Maintain a profitable strategy despite all odds?
A takeover by Tencent would therefore be just one of the options currently being considered by Ubisoft to prevent the boat from sinking. However, the French giant wants to stick to its current direction: open-world games and game service titles like XDefiant, which is apparently at half-mast. For better or for worse, given the relative success of his recent productions in both areas? The future will show us, in the hope that it will be cheaper in the end.
Source: Eurogamer
