On December 4, 2024, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot informed employees in an internal memo about the discontinuation of the game XDefiant and the closure of the production studios in San Francisco and Osaka. The next topic was the future of the company.
“Dear Sir or Madam, we have just issued a press release announcing our revised financial targets for the current financial year.”
“Initially, initial sales of Star Wars Outlaws proved weaker than expected, despite solid reviews from gamers recognizing the faithful implementation of the essence and richness of the original trilogy: 76 on Metacritic, 3.85/5 on PS Store, ~4/ 5 on Xbox and 4.4/5 on Epic.”
“While players praise the attention to detail and beauty of the graphics, the effectiveness of the reputation system and lovable characters like Nix, some have also noted areas for improvement. The development teams are already working hard on it, focusing on save issues, stealth mechanics, more frequent quest checkpoints, and better NPC AI. I am confident that these updates will significantly improve the gaming experience, allowing us to deliver on the promise and make Star Wars Outlaws a must-play game and a perennial favorite. In parallel, the publishing teams and developers are working closely together to increase engagement with the game and increase player acquisition during Black Friday and the holiday season.”
“In today's highly competitive market, players expect exceptional experiences and extremely sophisticated games from day one. We must continue to improve when it comes to fine-tuning our games and delivering outstanding gameplay. This will allow Ubisoft to get back to making the best games in the industry.”
“Therefore, we have decided to postpone Assassin's Creed Shadows until February 14, 2025. The game is already playable and of high quality and has all the features that the team wanted to integrate into this ambitious experience. This unusual decision at such an advanced time is motivated by our desire to provide an optimal gaming experience across all platforms and various PC configurations, and to eliminate the small frictions that we usually address in post-launch updates. We will also use the extra time to supplement the gaming experience with a few important side quests that will provide even more unforgettable moments.”
“In addition, our new releases, starting with Assassin's Creed Shadows, will be available again on Steam from launch day, in addition to the first-party stores from Epic and Ubisoft, after hearing player feedback on other topics. We are also currently rethinking our season pass model for our upcoming games. For Assassin’s Creed Shadows, all players will have access to the game at the same time, and those who pre-ordered the game will receive the first expansion for free.”
“In addition to the initial key short-term actions I have outlined above, management will focus on accelerating the improvement of our production, communications and publishing practices and processes, working closely with all of these teams, with the aim of providing players at the center of all our decisions. We will keep you regularly updated on the progress we are making.”
“Finally, I would like to address the polarizing coverage of our creative decisions lately. We are an entertainment company. As such, our aim is not to support any particular agenda. Our goal has always been to entertain players and enrich their lives with original and memorable experiences that appeal to a global audience.”
“This setback should not discourage us, but should serve as a learning experience and push us to act even faster. Let us believe more than ever in our ability to bounce back and address the challenges we face with clarity and determination. I would like to thank you for your commitment and reaffirm my confidence that together we will be able to surprise and meet the long-term expectations of a growing number of passionate stakeholders. Yves”
Finally, Guillemot underlined that Ubisoft's greatest strength lies in its employees and thanked them for their daily commitment and the quality of their work.
