Ubisoft is exploring the creation of a new company to house key franchises like Assassin's Creed, aiming to attract investors and potentially sell a stake. Bloomberg reports that negotiations are underway with investors including Tencent and several international and French funds. The new entity's valuation is projected to surpass Ubisoft's current $1.8 billion market capitalization.
However, this plan remains under discussion and is not finalized; Ubisoft may ultimately abandon it. The success of the upcoming Assassin's Creed Shadows is a crucial factor, with Ubisoft reporting positive pre-order progress.
This strategic move occurs amidst a fresh controversy in Japan. Kobe City Council and Hyogo Prefectural Assembly member Takeshi Nagase has publicly criticized Ubisoft's handling of religious themes in Shadows. Nagase objects to the protagonist's ability to attack monks and temples, citing the game's depiction of Engyō-ji temple in Himeji as particularly offensive, specifically mentioning the protagonist's "dirty shoes" and the destruction of a sacred mirror.
