Ubisoft at turning point: Gaming insider claims Assassin's Creed holds Ubisoft's future

During the 2000s and early 2010s, Ubisoft was a favorite among gamers, achieving massive success with franchises like Assassin's Creed and Far Cry. However, the company’s fortunes began to decline, hitting a new low in 2024. Every major release that year was a disappointment. Notable failures include:

• Skull and Bones: After 11 years in development and promoted as Ubisoft's first 'AAAA' title, the pirate adventure Skull and Bones launched to a lukewarm reception. It earned a 59 on Metacritic and a user score of just 3.3. On Steam, the game managed only 64% positive reviews and peaked at a modest 2,615 concurrent players.
• XDefiant: The free-to-play shooter showed early promise but was shut down after just over six months due to declining player numbers and insufficient profitability.
• Star Wars Outlaws: Released in August 2024, the highly anticipated open-world RPG set in the Star Wars universe failed to meet expectations. According to Insider Gaming, the game sold just 1 million copies in its first month. In contrast, Assassin's Creed Mirage reached 5 million sales within three months.

Jason Schreier sees Ubisoft at a turning point

The overuse of the "Ubisoft formula", defined by repetitive gameplay, cluttered maps and a lack of innovation, has fueled growing dissatisfaction among players and critics alike. This frustration is compounded by technical issues, frequent bugs and the inclusion of microtransactions in full-price games. As a result, Ubisoft is under mounting pressure to make significant changes, with the company’s future potentially hinging on developments this year.

Gaming insider Jason Schreier highlighted Ubisoft's precarious position in a recent Bloomberg report on the gaming industry in 2025. He described the company as being at a pivotal crossroads, with its fate likely influenced by the performance of Assassin's Creed Shadows. The game's release, already delayed to February 2025, could determine Ubisoft’s path forward.

A successful launch might provide the breathing room needed for internal restructuring, while failure could force drastic action. Options such as privatization or a sale are reportedly being considered. Companies like Tencent Holdings Ltd., a Chinese tech giant already holding a stake in Ubisoft and Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group have expressed interest in acquiring the company.

By the way: In the same report, Schreier also commented on GTA 6. He predicted that Rockstar Games will likely miss its announced fall 2025 release window, pushing the launch into 2026.