Ubisoft Could Be The Next Big Studio Up For Sale
Jim Ryan and Phil Spencer had better get out their chequebooks because it sounds like Ubisoft is the next gaming giant that's up for offer to the highest bidder. Just when we thought the great console wars has finally tempered themselves, the jaw-dropping acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft blew the doors off the industry.
Since then, it's been pistols at dawn. Sony snapped up former Xbox golden boy, Bungie, while the rumours continue that everyone from Capcom to Kojima Productions could be next to have their IPs locked to the PlayStation or Xbox. While Ubisoft has always walked the line between all sides, all that could be about to change.
Is Ubisoft Up For Sale?
According to Bloomberg, there's a very real possibility Ubisoft could be the next gaming giant to pick a side. Anonymous sources told the site, "Several private equity firms including Blackstone Inc. and KKR & Co. have been studying the French business."
Before you go arguing against an Xbox-exclusive Far Cry or only seeing future Assassin's Creed games on PlayStation, Bloomberg reiterated: "Ubisoft hasn't entered into any serious negotiations with potential acquirers, and it's unclear whether its major shareholder is willing to pursue a deal." If you still aren't convinced, Kotaku then backed up Bloomberg's sources.
Hardly painting a positive picture of what's going on at Ubisoft HQ, the rival outlet said, "The company will eventually sell to someone amid a flagging stock price and ongoing production struggles." Then again, Ubisoft's loss could be someone's gain. While not quite up there with Activision Blizzard and Call of Duty's might, Ubisoft has some huge titles under its belt.
What's Next For Ubisoft?
Click to enlargeEven though Ubisoft hasn't quite faced the controversy of Activision Blizzard, it's hardly top of the class right now. As well as multiple titles being given the boot, there have been alarming reports of low pay, the disaster of the Ubisoft Quartz NFTs, and widespread complaints of workplace abuse. If any of this sounds familiar, it's because Activision Blizzard's own allegations of having a "frat boy culture" boiled over just before Microsoft took the reins.
It remains to be seen what's next for Ubisoft, but for the first time in a very long time, we could see the likes of Assassin's Creed become platform exclusives. If we were betting people, we'd put our money on Sony being the one to wrangle the troubled publisher. Then again, if talks haven't taken place, this can't be the supposedly massive acquisition all those insiders *cough* claim Sony is queuing up. Either way, we can't wait to see how this one turns out.