Ubisoft and Tencent are reportedly exploring various strategies to stabilize their business and prevent further declines in stock prices. According to Bloomberg, discussions between Ubisoft's Guillemot family and Tencent have included the possibility of taking Ubisoft private or even a potential buyout by Tencent. These talks are said to be in their initial stages, suggesting that any concrete outcomes may be some time away. There is no certainty that these discussions will lead to any agreements, but both Tencent and the Guillemot family are reportedly open to other alternatives.
As of the end of April, Tencent held 9.2% of Ubisoft's net voting rights and currently owns 49.9% of the Guillemot Brothers' holding company's indirect stake. In a recent development, minor shareholder and hedge fund AJ Investments published an open letter last month urging Ubisoft to go private and reconsider its business strategy. This call for change comes in the wake of Ubisoft's shares hitting their lowest point since 2015, a drop of 12.6% following the release of Star Wars Outlaws, which underperformed in sales.
In response to these challenges, Ubisoft has delayed the release of Assassin's Creed Shadows from November 15 to February 14, 2025, incorporating feedback from the Star Wars Outlaws launch. Additionally, Ubisoft is reintroducing its games to Steam at launch, aiming to increase sales by reaching a broader audience.
