Ubisoft CEO Unveils 3-Year Plan to Revive Publisher With Creative House Strategy
▼ Summary
– Ubisoft is undergoing a major company-wide restructure into five “creative houses” and seeking €200 million in cost reductions to address its recent challenges and refocus its pipeline.
– The company is expanding key franchises like “Assassin’s Creed,” “Far Cry,” and “Rainbow Six,” with multiple projects in development and a focus on growing player communities and live-service games.
– Ubisoft’s partnership with Tencent is central to its strategy for scaling in Asian markets, particularly China, while the company maintains its operational autonomy.
– Leadership faces internal skepticism, with CEO Yves Guillemot defending his son’s executive appointment and addressing union concerns while emphasizing a need for transformation and agility.
– The company is canceling projects like the “Prince of Persia” remake to concentrate on higher-quality titles and is actively pursuing multimedia expansions, including a live-action “Assassin’s Creed” series with Netflix.
The video game industry is navigating a period of significant transition, and Ubisoft is implementing a comprehensive three-year strategy to revitalize its creative output and financial stability. Central to this plan is a major organizational shift, breaking the company into five distinct Creative Houses. This model is designed to grant development teams greater autonomy and focus, regrouping franchises by genre and player experience to foster deeper innovation and community engagement. The initiative comes alongside a push for substantial cost savings, following a challenging period marked by project delays, cancellations, and studio restructuring.
CEO Yves Guillemot emphasizes that this transformation aims to empower creators and return the company to its core strength: delivering high-quality player experiences. The recently established Vantage Studios, a subsidiary focused on competitive multiplayer titles, exemplifies this new direction. Its acquisition of “March of Giants” from Amazon signals a strategic move into the MOBA genre, leveraging external expertise to complement Ubisoft’s publishing and live-operations capabilities.
Partnerships are also a cornerstone of Ubisoft’s growth strategy. The completed alliance with Tencent is viewed as a critical avenue for expanding the reach of major franchises like Rainbow Six in the Asian market. Tencent’s deep understanding of regional player preferences and its distribution network are expected to help scale these brands significantly. Guillemot notes that the partnership respects Ubisoft’s operational independence while providing valuable industry insight.
Regarding its flagship series, Ubisoft confirms a robust development pipeline. Multiple Assassin’s Creed titles are in the works, including both single-player and multiplayer experiences, aiming to build on a community that surpassed 30 million players last year. Two new Far Cry projects are underway, and the Rainbow Six franchise continues to grow, recently achieving 2.5 million daily players. The global launch of Rainbow Six Mobile is now set for February 2026.
The company is also exploring the role of artificial intelligence through its “Teammates” R&D project. Viewed as a tool to enhance creativity rather than replace it, the technology is intended to make game worlds more dynamic and responsive to player behavior. It has been made available to internal teams to integrate as they see fit within their creative visions.
Addressing concerns over the company’s restructuring, Guillemot acknowledges the difficulty of decisions like canceling six projects, including the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake. He states these moves were necessary to concentrate talent and resources on the highest-potential games that meet elevated quality standards. The company’s cost-reduction efforts will involve selective restructuring, with a priority on voluntary departure plans and controlled hiring.
In response to internal tensions and calls for his resignation from some union representatives, Guillemot stresses his commitment to listening to employee concerns and leading the transformation responsibly. He underscores the need for transparency and dialogue during this period of major change, while also acknowledging the intense competitive pressures of the modern games industry.
Looking ahead, Ubisoft sees its biggest opportunities in the continued expansion of its established open-world franchises and live-service games. The goal is to grow player communities by offering fresh content and new ways to engage. Simultaneously, the company is investing in the next generation of intellectual property, encouraged by new technologies that enable previously impossible experiences.
Beyond gaming, Ubisoft’s entertainment ambitions are advancing. A live-action Assassin’s Creed series is in active development at Netflix, a second season of the Splinter Cell animated series is confirmed, and both a Watch Dogs film and a Far Cry television series are moving forward. These projects reflect a strategy to extend the reach of its storytelling across multiple media platforms.
Throughout this period of change, a focus on accessibility remains a company priority. Ubisoft integrates accessibility considerations early in development, involving players with disabilities in playtesting and workshops. Recent titles like Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Star Wars Outlaws have launched with features such as in-game audio description, setting a standard for inclusive design.
Guillemot’s final message to shareholders underscores a commitment to long-term value creation. By decentralizing creative decision-making, refocusing the game pipeline, and managing costs, the leadership believes Ubisoft is building a more agile and resilient foundation for the future. The objective is clear: to navigate the current industry landscape by strengthening beloved franchises, exploring new ideas, and consistently delivering the exceptional experiences players expect.
(Source: Variety)
