Ubisoft Board opens investigation into the company’s performance
Ubisoft opens an investigation into itself to solve ongoing struggles
Ubisoft has announced that its Executive Committee and Board of Directors have launched an investigation into the company’s performance. This investigation comes after a string of high-profile failures, with many recent releases underperforming Ubisoft’s expectations.
This investigation comes after the delay of Assassin’s Creed Shadows and the sub-par launch of Star Wars: Outlaws. The company’s share price is the lowest it has been since 2013. In fact, Ubisoft’s share price has dropped over 85% since 2018. Simply put, Ubisoft isn’t doing well.
Below is what Ubisoft CEO and Co-Founder Yves Guillemot said about the company’s internal investigation.
In the light of recent challenges, we acknowledge the need for greater efficiency while delighting players. As a result, beyond the first important short-term actions undertaken, the Executive Committee, under the supervision of the Board of Directors, is launching a review aimed at further improving our execution, notably in this player-centric approach, and accelerating our strategic path towards a higher performing model to the benefit of our stakeholders and shareholders.
Finally, let me address some of the polarized comments around Ubisoft lately. I want to reaffirm that we are an entertainment-first company, creating games for the broadest possible audience, and our goal is not to push any specific agenda. We remain committed to creating games for fans and players that everyone can enjoy.
Yves Guillemot – Ubisoft Co-Founder and CEO
Ubisoft’s management believes that their investigation will help improve the company’s execution and profitability. That said, it is hard to believe that Ubisoft’s struggles will be easily fixed. After all, it isn’t just one studio that is releasing underperforming games; it is a trend across most of its studios.
Clearly, Ubisoft is changing its strategy. The decision to delay Assassin’s Creed Shadows and bring it to Steam on day 1 is a clear sign that Ubisoft cannot stomach another failure. Ubisoft is even giving away the game’s first expansion to pre-orderers. Ubisoft is clearly giving off some “we need this game to see well” vibes. Will it work? Who knows?
You can join the discussion on Ubisoft’s investigation into the company’s performance on the OC3D Forums.
