So the French publisher is still counting on Chinese money, as Tencent has made a huge investment in the company.

Ubisoft has announced that it is creating a subsidiary based on the Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six IPs, which has been kick-started by Tencent’s €1.16 billion investment. The Chinese tech giant will also retain a 25% stake in the subsidiary. The new subsidiary will focus on building truly evergreen and multi-platform game ecosystems and further enhancing the quality of the narrative solo experience by expanding the multiplayer offering through more frequent content releases, introducing free-to-play touch points and integrating more community features.

Prior to the agreement with Tencent, we heard that the French publisher was exploring and evaluating its previously announced strategic options for 2025. After careful consideration of the many expressions of interest from various parties, Ubisoft decided that this transaction represented the best value for its assets and approved the offer. In parallel with the creation of the new subsidiary, Ubisoft will focus on developing iconic franchises such as Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon and The Division, accelerating the growth of top-performing titles, and leveraging disruptive technologies in selected new intellectual properties, while continuing to provide cutting-edge game engines and online services.

“Today, Ubisoft opens a new chapter in its history. As we accelerate the company’s transformation, this is a fundamental step in changing Ubisoft’s operating model, which will allow us to be both agile and ambitious. We are focused on building strong game ecosystems designed to be evergreen, developing strong brands and creating new IPs based on the latest and emerging technologies. With the creation of a dedicated subsidiary to lead development for three of our largest franchises and the addition of Tencent as a minority investor, we are crystallizing the value of our assets, strengthening our balance sheet, and creating the best conditions for the long-term growth and success of these franchises. With their dedicated and autonomous leadership teams, they will focus on transforming these three brands into unique ecosystems.

We are committed to building a sharper, more focused organization – one where talented teams will take our brands to the next level, accelerate the growth of emerging franchises, and lead innovation in next-generation technologies and services, all with the goal of delivering enriching, memorable games that exceed players’ expectations and create superior value for our shareholders and other stakeholders,” said Yves Guillemot, co-founder and CEO of Ubisoft, in the press release.

“We are pleased to extend our long-standing partnership with Ubisoft through this investment, which reflects our continued confidence in Ubisoft’s creative vision and exceptional talent to drive sustainable success in the industry. We see immense potential for these franchises to become long-term, evergreen gaming platforms and create compelling new experiences for players,” added Tencent President Martin Lau.

So is Ubisoft sold out?

Source: Gematsu