Ubisoft is preparing for a possible purchase and delays Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Ubisoft is preparing for a possible acquisition. After months of rumors and speculation, the French video game publisher has taken the first step towards a possible acquisition. Early reports indicate that Tencent and the Guillemot family will buy the company to dig it out of the hole.

According to a report from CNBC, Ubisoft has announced the hiring of consultants following reports of possible interest in acquisition. The company confirmed it had hired “leading consultants” to explore “transformational strategic and capital options to maximize value for stakeholders.”

This process will be supervised by independent members of the Board of Directors. Ubisoft said it will provide updates in accordance with applicable regulations if the transaction goes through.

The announcement comes months after it was revealed that The Guillemot family, founders of Ubisoft and Tencent, were considering a possible acquisition companies. The Guillemot family is the main shareholder of the French company, followed by the Chinese conglomerate. According to a report from Bloombergboth would begin negotiations during 2024 to determine the best strategy.

If this scenario comes true, Yves Guillemot will remain at the helm as CEO. The co-founder and current CEO addressed the board of directors saying, “We believe there are multiple potential ways to generate value from Ubisoft’s assets and franchises.”

Assassin’s Creed Shadows suffers another delay

Along with the report, Guillemot announced a new delay for one of its most important franchises. Assassin’s Creed Shadowsthe game, which was originally scheduled to release in November 2024, will not release in February as planned. The next chapter of the saga will be released March 20, 2025a business decision that has nothing to do with the game’s development.

The purchase of Ubisoft is a topic that has been discussed for several months. At some point it was said that Microsoft will buy the French conglomeratehowever decided to invest $69 billion in Activision to take control Call of Duty. The most recent rumors point to a partnership between Guillemots and Tencent, the Asian giant that owns shares in several video game companies.

Since the initial report in October, Ubisoft has neither confirmed nor denied talks with Tencent:

“Ubisoft has taken note of recent press rumors regarding the company’s possible interests. [La firma] periodically reviews all its strategic options in the interests of its stakeholders and informs the market where necessary. The company reiterates that management is currently focused on executing its strategy focused on two key verticals: open world adventure and native gaming as a service.”

Ubisoft shares fell 45% during 2024. The decline was attributed to concerns about the company’s major releases and uncertainty about its strategic direction. Guillemots has lacked stellar management in recent years, and the company has been plagued by sexual harassment scandals and a toxic work culture.