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[LectureMaster]

Assassin's Creed Shadows' Release Is "Bit Of An Existential Moment" For Ubisoft, Analyst Says

If the game sells "really well," then that could help repair Ubisoft's financial position, an analyst says.

www.gamespot.com

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Ubisoft's next big release is Assassin's Creed Shadows, which debuts on March 20. According to analyst Joost Van Dreunen, the game's release is a "bit of an existential moment" for Ubisoft.

Van Dreunen told Reuters this against the backdrop of Ubisoft's recent financial struggles, as the company's stock price reached a 10-year low in 2024 following disappointing sales of Star Wars Outlaws. The analyst believes if Shadows can do "really well" in terms of sales, that could "go a long way toward repairing [Ubisoft's] financial position."

Ubisoft is said to be negotiating with potential business partners to help the company turn things around, including Tencent. It recently came to light that Ubisoft might be looking at selling off individual game franchises, with Microsoft and EA said to be in the mix. Ubisoft has not commented on any of this.

Some of the pre-release discussion surrounding Shadows has been focused around the game's diverse cast of characters. Controversial business leader Elon Musk weighed in, prompting Assassin's Creed executive producer Marc-Alexis Cote to respond.

According to Van Dreunen, the back-and-forth could benefit the game. "It's free press; this only makes the game more interesting to a lot of players, I'm sure," he said.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot recently condemned what he called "malicious and personal online attacks" against some of its developers, though he didn't name Assassin's Creed outright.

"I am proud to support the amazing work of our teams and partners, and I will always trust in their creative choices. We should all celebrate the hard work and talent that goes into making video games," he said.

GameSpot's Assassin's Creed Shadows review scored the game an 8/10. Reviewer Jordan Ramee said, "Assassin's Creed Shadows is an absolute blast to play."

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[ElFenomeno]

All press is good press, eh?
Man, Ubi can't crash and burn sooner...

 

[Fake]

Free Press? Last week was another name.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

Spoiler

It won't

 

[DryvBy]

If they talk about how many people played the game and claim any "record breaking numbers", we know they're about to get sold to the Dollar Store.

 

[Rush2112]

Veilguard got plenty of ‘free press.’ Now people arent even playing it on PS plus.

 

[San Dan Glokta]

 

[TheAtomicPile]

It's a bold strategy, but I have a feeling Ubisoft is in for a big shock when the CCU dries up after all the conservative streamers have exhausted themselves pursuing every possible gay relationship for Yasuke.

 

[kiphalfton]

Ubisoft is lucky the AC series has done as well as it's done. 20+ game run, and should have lost steam so much sooner.

That's the only reason it may sell halfway okay, is because it HAD so much momentum.

 

[Hookshot]

Shadows already has over 1 million "players" but I've no idea how many sales of it or subscriptions are needed to cover the cost.

 

[Guilty_AI]

what kind of modern analyst still believes the "every marketing is good marketing"

 

[Lokaum D+]

the only question is.. How much it ll increase the price of Ubisoft when Tencent buys then out ?

 

[coachmcguirk91]

Shadows already has over 1 million "players" but I've no idea how many sales of it or subscriptions are needed to cover the cost.

Even if the game doesn't sell great, it's hard to believe it won't turn a profit eventually. Valhalla generated over a billion in sales. The problem is that Ubisoft needs this game to do much more than just profit. AC Shadows is viewed as a title that can save the sinking ship that is Ubisoft. Ubisoft will probably need to make drastic changes sooner than later if Shadows isn't a massive success

 

[Arachnid]

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot recently condemned what he called "malicious and personal online attacks" against some of its developers, though he didn't name Assassin's Creed outright.

"I am proud to support the amazing work of our teams and partners, and I will always trust in their creative choices. We should all celebrate the hard work and talent that goes into making video games," he said.

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Stfu Yves, you strung Splinter Cell fans along for like a decade

Shadows is great, despite controversy. Best AC since Black Flag, easy. Mechanically the best in the series, too.

 

[Fake]

Sony should listen to this guy and re-release Morbius.

 

[Killer8]

None of it even matters any more now they are going to just farm out the IPs with the spin-off company, backed by Chinese money.