Ubisoft is currently exploring the possibility of establishing a new company with the aim of attracting investors, focusing specifically on key franchises such as Assassin's Creed. According to Bloomberg, the company is planning to sell a stake in this new venture and has already initiated discussions with potential investors, including tech giant Tencent, alongside various international and French funds. The market value of this proposed new entity is projected to surpass Ubisoft's current market capitalization, which stands at $1.8 billion.
However, the creation of this new company is still in the discussion phase, and Ubisoft has not yet made a final decision. The company's ultimate course of action will hinge significantly on the success of the upcoming release of Assassin's Creed Shadows, a game on which Ubisoft has placed substantial expectations. Ubisoft reports that pre-orders for Assassin's Creed Shadows are progressing well, indicating strong consumer interest.
This strategic move comes amid controversy surrounding Assassin's Creed Shadows in Japan. Takeshi Nagase, a member of both the Kobe City Council and the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly, has publicly criticized Ubisoft for its handling of religious themes within the game. Nagase finds it unacceptable that the protagonist in Shadows can engage in combat with monks within temples or fire arrows at these sacred sites. Furthermore, he has expressed his discontent with the depiction of the renowned Engyō-ji temple in Himeji, particularly highlighting scenes where the character Yasuke enters the temple with dirty shoes and damages a sacred mirror inside.
