Ubisoft Faces New Financial Issues and Assassin's Creed Shadows Scandal

Ubisoft is currently considering the formation of a new company aimed at attracting investors by focusing on the sale of key franchises such as Assassin's Creed. According to a report by Bloomberg, Ubisoft intends to sell a stake in this newly formed entity and has initiated discussions with potential investors, including Tencent, as well as various international and French funds. The projected market value of this new venture is anticipated to surpass Ubisoft's existing market capitalization, which stands at $1.8 billion.

However, these plans are still in the preliminary stages and subject to change. Ubisoft may decide to abandon the initiative, particularly depending on the performance of their upcoming title, Assassin's Creed Shadows. The company has expressed optimism about the game's reception, noting that pre-orders are moving forward at a steady pace.

This development comes amidst controversy in Japan concerning Assassin's Creed Shadows. Takeshi Nagase, a member of both the Kobe City Council and the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly, has publicly criticized Ubisoft's depiction of religious elements in the game. Nagase finds it offensive that the game's protagonist can engage in combat with monks within temple grounds or fire arrows at sacred structures. Additionally, he has taken issue with the portrayal of the renowned Engyō-ji temple in Himeji, specifically the scenes where the character Yasuke disrespectfully enters the temple with soiled footwear and damages a sacred mirror.