LogInThe studio will continue executing its strategy to meet the needs and expectations of its stakeholders.
Ubisoft
Last Friday, the entire gaming industry got shaken up when it was reported that Tencent, a Chinese tech and media giant, is considering purchasing Ubisoft and taking the company private in order to save it from going bankrupt. With many of Ubisoft's latest big-budget projects either getting delayed or showing disappointing financial results, the news of the potential acquisition wasn't seen as a surprise by a sizeable chunk of the community, which had predicted that it was only a matter of time before Ubisoft was bought by a larger developer.
Recently, the story of the potential acquisition entered a new chapter when Ubisoft a statement of its own, all but confirming the original Bloomberg report to be true. In its statement, the company affirmed that it is indeed considering several "strategic options" to meet the needs and expectations of its stakeholders, strongly hinting that a buyout is not off the table. Furthermore, Ubisoft stated that it does not plan to change its strategy and will continue to focus on open-world and live service games.
"Ubisoft has noted recent press speculation regarding potential interests around the Company. It regularly reviews all its strategic options in the interest of its stakeholders and will inform the market if and when appropriate," the studio told Eurogamer. "The company reiterates that management is currently focused on executing its strategy, centered on two core verticals – open world adventures and GaaS [Games as a Service]-native experiences."
Ubisoft
With Ubisoft's corporate comment acknowledging its discussions with Tencent, the community's opinion on the matter got largely divided. On one hand, the acquisition could lead to a change in Ubisoft's management, which, all things considered, is something that many would welcome.
On the other hand, it might result in hundreds, if not thousands, of developers getting fired, and with Yves Guillemot likely staying in charge, Ubisoft may not change its approach to game development even with Tencent in charge, opting instead to offset its financial losses with the salaries of fired devs.
At the same time, leaving things as they are doesn't seem like a viable strategy either, given that Ubisoft's stock price had been on a steady decline, reaching an 11-year low before last Friday's buyout report. Zugzwang.
Furthermore, some are also questioning Tencent's true motives, finding the Chinese conglomerate's noble goal to "explore ways to stabilize Ubisoft and bolster its value" unconvincing. Instead, they suggest that Tencent simply wants to purchase Ubisoft while it is relatively cheap only to add it to its collection of bought-out developers, not to save it from financial and reputational downfall. Whether or not this speculation holds true is something only Tencent knows, leaving us all to wonder what lies ahead for the once-beloved developer of Assassin's Creed and Far Cry in the coming months.
What do you think the future holds for Ubisoft? Will regular players benefit from the acquisition? Tell us in the comments!
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