In the ever-evolving world of gaming, Ubisoft finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with internal concerns and the need to navigate through choppy waters. Yves Guillemot, the CEO of Ubisoft, recently addressed the worries within the company, which surfaced during its annual employee survey. This survey, done internally, became a focal point of discussion after details were leaked to the media.
The gaming giant has been struggling with a series of setbacks in recent years, most notably with its high-budget games not performing as expected. As of 2024, this downward trend continued, with titles like Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Skull and Bones, and Star Wars Outlaws all missing their sales targets. Even XDefiant, a free-to-play military shooter released in May 2024, failed to hit the mark, leading to its announced closure by June 2025. Consequently, tough decisions were made to shut down Ubisoft’s San Francisco and Osaka studios, impacting roughly half of their workforce.
In response to these challenges, Yves Guillemot shared a sincere memo with employees, acknowledging the many concerns raised in the survey, which had a robust 86% response rate, amassing over 55,000 comments from their approximately 21,000-strong workforce. He reassured employees that the company leadership is committed to keeping Ubisoft in control of its fate. This involves launching a series of initiatives to tackle the issues highlighted in the survey and emphasizing a renewed focus on creativity within their development process.
Guillemot didn’t shy away from addressing the hard choices made, particularly the cessation of XDefiant and the closing of certain studios. He admitted these moves were challenging but necessary, recognizing the effort invested in trying to compete with industry titans like Call of Duty.
Looking to the future, Ubisoft’s hopes are pinned on the upcoming release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, set to launch on February 14th. This fresh entry has some big shoes to fill, given the monumental success of its predecessor, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, which raked in over a billion dollars amid the pandemic-fueled gaming boom. Although matching Valhalla’s success is no small feat, the stakes are high for Shadows to help lift Ubisoft back onto a path of success.
Ubisoft, known globally and headquartered in Saint-Mandé, France, has built its reputation on blockbuster franchises like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Just Dance. As it stands at a pivotal junction, the company is determined to refine its strategies and reconnect with the essence of what made its titles beloved by gamers across the globe.
