Ubisoft's New Financial Schemes and Another Scandal with Assassin's Creed Shadows

Ubisoft is exploring a potential spin-off company to attract investment and capitalize on key franchises like Assassin's Creed. Bloomberg reports that the company is in talks with potential investors, including Tencent and various international and French funds, to sell a stake in this new entity. This new company's valuation is projected to surpass Ubisoft's current market capitalization of $1.8 billion.

Currently, this plan remains under consideration, and Ubisoft may ultimately decide against it. The success of the upcoming Assassin's Creed Shadows release is a significant factor in this decision. Ubisoft reports that pre-orders for the game are progressing well.

This strategic maneuver unfolds amidst another controversy surrounding the game in Japan. Kobe City Council and Hyogo Prefectural Assembly member Takeshi Nagase has publicly criticized Ubisoft's handling of religious themes in Assassin's Creed Shadows. Nagase objects to the protagonist's ability to attack monks in temples and the depiction of Engyō-ji temple in Himeji, citing the protagonist's actions as disrespectful to the sacred site.