A dismal earnings report reveals French video game giant Ubisoft is in dire straits. The troubled entertainment titan, responsible for blockbuster franchises like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Just Dance, issued a new third-quarter sales report revealing a 52% year-on-year dip in third-quarter net bookings. The report also shows Ubisoft generated just over $1 billion in the nine months ending December 31, 2024 — a 31.4% year-on-year slump.
Despite suboptimal earnings and subdued expectations from gamers around the globe, Ubisoft remains relatively unbothered. CFO Frederick Duguet notes presale figures for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft’s 14th Assassin’s Creed entry slated for release on March 20, are “tracking solidly, in line with those of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, the second most successful entry of the franchise.” Duguet’s optimism aside, Shadows‘ tentative March 20 release has some holding their breath.
The game was initially expected to hit stores and online distributors worldwide on November 15, 2024, but plans to polish it further pushed its release to February 14. Another delay issued not long after the first put the game on hold until March 20. These delays are a new strategy for Ubisoft that might pay off. Gamers around the world have long lambasted “Big Gaming”‘s willingness to push buggy, unfinished titles they frantically patch upon release (see: Ubisoft’s massive disappointment, Star Wars: Outlaws“).
Ubisoft has made headlines throughout the past year as frustrating flops, delayed releases, buyout rumors, and sweeping layoffs continue to sour consumers and shareholders alike. In January, the company issued a “strategic update” outlining its plan to trim €200 million (about $210 million), explaining it will “review and pursue various transformational strategic and capitalistic options to extract the best value for stakeholders.”
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A lifelong gamer raised on classic titles like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, and Croc, Stephanie brings her expertise of gaming and pop culture to deliver unique, refreshing views on the world of video games, complete with references to absurd and obscure media.
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