You are not being informed of anything novel; Ubisoft is experiencing its most severe financial crisis, with weekly reports of negative developments regarding the French publisher. This continued trend includes the recent announcement by Ubisoft of the closure of one of its newer studios, Ubisoft Leamington in the UK, resulting in a restructuring plan and the economic layoff of 185 employees.
In the context of our ongoing efforts to prioritize projects and reduce costs to ensure long-term stability at Ubisoft, we have announced targeted restructurings within the Düsseldorf (Germany), Stockholm (Sweden), and Ubisoft Reflections (England) studios, as well as the definitive closure of the Ubisoft Leamington site. Regrettably, this will impact 185 employees out of the approximately 19,000 staff members that the company employs worldwide.
Following recent announcements regarding the closure of offices in San Francisco and Osaka, as well as a gradual reduction at the Sydney (Australia) location due to the cessation of the XDefiant game, Ubisoft has made another significant announcement. This comes shortly after an article in Les Echos revealed that Yves Guillemot, CEO of Ubisoft, visited Saudi Arabia alongside Emmanuel Macron and approximately 50 other business leaders to foster strategic and economic partnerships between France and the country led by Mohammed Bin Salman. According to reports, Ubisoft has entered into an agreement with Savvy Games for developing a new DLC for Assassin’s Creed Mirage, which may provide additional funding to help the company navigate its current financial challenges.
It is noted that Chinese tech giant Tencent is among the partners Ubisoft is considering in an effort to address its current challenges. This includes the potential creation of a new entity that could acquire certain assets such as video game licenses and some development studios. The progress and success of this initiative may depend on the performance and release timing of the upcoming game “Assassin’s Creed Shadows,” which has been rescheduled for March 20, 2025.
In recent developments, Ubisoft has unveiled a highly anticipated mobile game set in the mystical era of Imperial China. Entitled “Assassin’s Creed Jade,” this ambitious project was officially revealed during Tencent’s “Into the Infinite” conference on August 23rd by Sophie Laurent. The game promises an expansive open-world environment and deep gameplay mechanics, immersing players in the historical struggle between Assassins and Templars. With no official release date yet announced, fans are eagerly looking forward to further details on this exciting new addition to the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Be sure to check out all the intriguing insights and first impressions at Assassin’s Creed Jade: Eight Months After Leaks, China-Set Episode Unveils First Official Gameplay Trailer. As the financial landscape at Ubisoft continues to evolve, it’s worth noting that one of their upcoming titles, **Assassin’s Creed Mirage**, is nearing its release and has been generating significant buzz in the gaming community. Ahmed Hassan’s insightful piece on Players for Life delves into how this game marks a return to classic Assassin’s Creed gameplay mechanics, emphasizing parkour and stealth set against the vibrant backdrop of Baghdad under the Abbasid Caliphate. Released on September 12th, Hassan explores Mirage’s potential to divide players with its more refined approach to gaming. For those interested in diving deeper into how this installment carves out a unique path within the franchise, be sure to check out the full article Assassin’s Creed Mirage: It’s a Return to Roots, But the Game Will Divide Players. As the gaming community continues to digest Ubisoft’s recent financial updates and restructuring news, there’s an exciting silver lining on the horizon with the upcoming release of “Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora” (Carlos Mendoza, September 14, 2023). This ambitious title has recently sparked renewed interest following a compelling gameplay reveal that showcases the game’s rich narrative and immersive world. Set for launch on December 7th, 2023, across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora promises to deliver an unforgettable experience with its unique blend of Na’vi culture and advanced combat mechanics. For more details on this highly anticipated game, be sure to check out our recent coverage Avatar Frontiers of Pandora: New Gameplay Video Reignites Hype Around the Game.
