Ubisoft Plans Major Business Shake-Up – Tencent Involved?

Ubisoft is reportedly looking to spin off a new business unit that would manage its biggest franchises – Assassin’s Creed, Rainbow Six, and Far Cry – while bringing in outside investors. And Tencent might be part of the deal.

According to Bloomberg, this move could make the new entity more valuable than Ubisoft itself. Meanwhile, Ubisoft’s main company would stay under the control of the Guillemot family, which has been a key factor in past negotiations.

This comes as Ubisoft struggles to stabilize after years of declining share prices and underwhelming game launches (Star Wars Outlaws, anyone?). To cut costs, they’ve repeatedly laid off staff and even shut down studios like their UK-based Leamington office. Since 2022, their workforce has dropped from 20,279 to 18,666, and that’s before the most recent round of layoffs.

The company’s next big release, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, has already been delayed twice to ensure it launches in a polished state. No pressure, right?

Ubisoft has confirmed that a special committee is overseeing the process to ensure the best outcome for its assets and franchises. But whether this restructuring will be the game-changer Ubisoft needs – or just another corporate shuffle – remains to be seen.