Ubisoft Unveils New Financial Plans Amid Assassin's Creed Shadows Scandal

Ubisoft is currently considering the establishment of a new company aimed at attracting investors, with a focus on selling key franchises such as Assassin's Creed. According to Bloomberg, the company is in discussions to sell a stake in this proposed entity, and negotiations have already commenced with potential investors including Tencent, alongside various international and French funds. The anticipated market value of this new company is projected to surpass Ubisoft's current market capitalization of $1.8 billion.

The discussions are still in progress, and no definitive decision has been reached yet. It's possible that Ubisoft might opt to abandon this plan entirely. The decision hinges significantly on the performance of the upcoming release of Assassin's Creed Shadows, which Ubisoft is banking heavily on. The company has reported that pre-orders for the game are moving forward at a steady pace.

Amidst these developments, Ubisoft is also facing controversy over Assassin's Creed Shadows in Japan. Takeshi Nagase, a member of the Kobe City Council and the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly, has voiced strong objections to the game's depiction of religious themes. Nagase finds it offensive that the protagonist can attack monks in temples or shoot arrows at sacred sites. He is particularly critical of the portrayal of the famous Engyō-ji temple in Himeji, where the character Yasuke is shown entering with dirty shoes and destroying a sacred mirror.