The studio is considering establishing a separate entity to attract investment, with a primary focus on monetizing major franchises like Assassin's Creed. Bloomberg reports indicate the company intends to divest a portion of this new venture and has initiated preliminary discussions with potential investors, including Tencent alongside various international and French investment funds. Industry analysts project the new company's valuation could surpass Ubisoft's current $1.8 billion market capitalization.
Currently, these plans remain in the discussion phase without definitive commitment. The final decision may hinge on the commercial performance of the impending Assassin's Creed Shadows release, for which Ubisoft maintains strong expectations. Company representatives confirm pre-order numbers currently align with projections.
These strategic moves coincide with mounting controversy surrounding the game's treatment of Japanese cultural elements in its latest installment.
Takeshi Nagase, serving on both Kobe City Council and Hyogo Prefectural Assembly, has publicly condemned Ubisoft's approach to religious themes in Shadows. The legislator criticized gameplay mechanics allowing protagonists to assault monks within temple grounds and target sacred structures with projectile weapons. Nagase specifically objected to the depiction of Himeji's historic Engyō-ji temple, citing scenes where "Yasuke violates sacred space by entering with footwear and destroying religious artifacts including ceremonial mirrors."
