After a tumultuous year marked by layoffs, losses, and litigation, video game company Ubisoft has officially launched its collaboration with Chinese-owned tech conglomerate Tencent. The new venture, branded Vantage Studios, has been in the works since January of this year. The game studio is set to kickstart operations today, October 1, under the leadership of co-CEOs Christophe Derennes and Charlie Guillemot. The former worked as the Managing Director of Ubisoft North America, while the latter is the son of Ubisoft co-founder Yves Guillemot.
In addition to its 25% stake in the new subsidiary, Tencent will serve in an advisory role. The company will primarily oversee Ubisoft’s most recognizable IPs — Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six — though co-CEOs Guillemot and Derennes will exercise control over the company’s creative and entrepreneurial pursuits. Tencent and Ubisoft’s new undertaking comprises what the companies call “creative houses,” which they say will “enhance quality, focus, autonomy and accountability while fostering closer connections with players.”
In March 2025, Ubisoft said the then-unnamed Vantage Studios would “focus on building game ecosystems designed to become truly evergreen and multi-platform. Backed by greater investment and boosted creative capacities, it will drive further increases in quality of narrative solo experiences, expand multiplayer offerings with increased frequency of content release, introduce free-to-play touchpoints, and integrate more social features.”
Daniel O’Connor, Ubisoft’s Senior Editorial & Communications Manager, explains what’s ahead for Vantage Studios in the brand’s latest press release:
“Vantage Studios will take on development and expansion of these brands, building on the foundation of Ubisoft’s experience and expertise, sharing services and technical resources, all while giving developers more hands-on control over the games they are building.
“Vantage Studios represents a first step in Ubisoft’s ongoing transformation, with plans to set up additional creative houses and group its brands and franchises under the banner of a shared DNA and development expertise. The goal of Vantage Studios, and future creative houses, is to facilitate stronger and deeper connections between developers and players. This streamlined approach allows for both a higher level of autonomy for developers and a shorter pathway between gathering and implementing player feedback, while still offering the benefit of Ubisoft’s expertise, services, tools, and tech.
“Comprising teams developing the Rainbow Six, Assassin’s Creed, and Far Cry franchises based in Ubisoft’s studios in Montréal, Quebec, Sherbrooke, Saguenay, Barcelona, and Sofia, Vantage Studios brings together thousands of experienced developers from across the world, many of whom are responsible for creating some of Ubisoft’s biggest games.”
Ubisoft closes its release by urging fans to stay tuned to its news hub for more information.
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