Ubisoft towards acquisition? Guillemot and Tencent evaluate

The future of Ubisoft, the French gaming giant, is shrouded in uncertainty. After a 2024 marked by a loss of more than half of the market value, the Guillemot family, founders of the company, and the Chinese giant Tencent, seem intent on reversing course. According to rumors gathered by Bloomberg, the two shareholders, who hold 14% and 9.99% of the shares respectively, are evaluating various options to stabilize Ubisoft and increase its value, including a joint acquisition that would take the company out of the market equity.

The hypothesis of an acquisition, although still in its embryonic stage, has already aroused the interest of some minority shareholders, such as AJ Invest, who have long been pushing for a privatization or sale of the company. The move, on the other hand, would not surprise analysts. Ubisoft, despite boasting successful franchises such as Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry, has faced several challenges in recent years, including the commercial failure of titles such as Star Wars Outlaws and the postponement of Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

An acquisition by the Guillemot family and Tencent could provide the stability needed to meet future challenges, but it also raises questions about the company’s future. Tencent, already a shareholder of several Western video game companies, could exercise greater influence on Ubisoft’s strategic decisions, with possible repercussions on the content and creative direction of its games. At the moment, there is no certainty about the outcome of the negotiations. The Guillemot family and Tencent could opt for alternative solutions, such as the search for new investors or the sale of some assets.