Due to disappointing figures, the publisher cancels several planned titles and corrects financial targets. Rumours even speak of a planned sale.
In a press release, Ubisoft explains that 2022 was a difficult year for the publisher and some published games did not bring the hoped-for success. As a consequence, among other things, three more games will be discontinued after the plug was already pulled on four titles in July 2022.
What”s going wrong at Ubisoft?
According to their own statement, they are currently facing great challenges. Games like Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope and Just Dance 2023 did not achieve the financial success they had hoped for. In addition, the industry is moving towards “mega brands” with enduring games that can reach gamers globally on different platforms.
With their own big brands like Assassin”s Creed, Far Cry, Rainbow Six and other Tom Clancy series, they want to adapt to this development in the future. However, the respective titles have not yet been released. The publisher”s difficult situation is also attributed to the changed work patterns due to the effects of the pandemic, which strongly influenced productions.
The publisher”s financial situation is also reflected in the company”s falling share price. Not mentioned in the current communications are the apparent problems with sexism and toxic corporate culture, which have led to the removal of key people from senior management in recent years.
Which games will be discontinued?
All three now-discontinued titles have remained unannounced so far, so we”ll probably never know what we missed. Since Ubisoft wants to focus more on fewer titles, it”s quite possible that it”s rather smaller brands and games that now have to make way.
In July 2022, however, it was Ghost Recon: Frontline, one of Ubisoft”s biggest franchises, that was discontinued. However, the game also received a thoroughly negative reception. In addition to two unknown titles, the plug was also pulled on Splinter Cell VR at the time, which would probably have also had a rather small player base as a VR game.
What other measures are being considered?
Basically, the publisher wants to proceed more cautiously and corrects its financial targets for the following year downwards. All energy will be focused on expanding the existing brands and making them some of the strongest in the industry. At the same time, as mentioned, you want to focus on fewer titles.
Ubisoft definitely already did the rounds proposing acquisitions and mergers with other similar companies, and it mostly got laughed at. It”s just too unwieldy. Its strength was its distributed development structure, and now that is an albatross.
– Grubb (@JeffGrubb) January 11, 2023
According to the well-known insider Jeff Grubb, Ubisoft has already considered buying up. However, the proposals have fallen on deaf ears with other publishers. However, this is only an unconfirmed rumor and not official information. After all, there is also good news for players: Because a crossover event in Assassin”s Creed Valhalla promises exciting things for the successor Mirage, if you look closely.
