Tencent and the Guillemot family are reportedly considering a takeover of Ubisoft as part of efforts to stabilize the company amid a tumultuous 2024.
According to Bloombergboth sides have reportedly been talking to advisers about how best to boost Ubisoft’s value after multiple gaffes over the past 12 months have sent the share price plunging. Ubisoft has lost half of its market value this year, but news of this potential buyout has resulted in a sharp rise of around 33%.
A potential buyout is reportedly just one of several ways Tencent and the Guillemot family could go under. Discussions are also said to be at a very early stage and there is no certainty that the talks will ultimately lead to any transaction.
In September, Ubisoft’s share price fell to its lowest value in years after mediocre reception and weak sales Star Wars Outlaws. It was also reported that Assassin’s Creed Shadowsthe latest flagship title in the stealth franchise, will be delayed until February 2025 in order for Ubisoft to avoid a repeat of the Star Wars debacle.
It’s not all doom and gloom, as Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown ended up being one of the strongest Metroidvanias we’ve played in years. Having said that, we have a hard time imagining it being a strong commercial success. Ubisoft has an unfortunate reputation for heavily discounting its games shortly after initial launch, which may have contributed to weaker sales in recent years.
