French video game company Ubisoft’s CEO, Yves Guillemot, is addressing the brand’s controversial company-wide restructuring efforts, employee demonstrations, layoffs, and more in an exclusive interview with Variety. In the interview, Guillemot also breaks down his five-year plan to revitalize the brand, a goal he plans to achieve through the company’s collaborative — and expensive — endeavor with Chinese tech titan Tencent. The joint undertaking, called Vantage Studios, splits Ubisoft into five new “creative houses.”
Guillemot also addresses industry unionization and recent worker strikes in Europe, telling Variety that he “fully understand[s] the legitimate concerns of [Ubisoft’s] teams in France and around the world.” The Ubisoft CEO cites the company’s “major phase of transformation” as a catalyst behind rising questioning and tension.
While Guillemot says he’s committed to listening, leading responsibly and maintaining team engagement, he maintains he “can’t ignore that we are part of an industry that is more competitive and demanding than ever … The decisions we are making are guided by that reality.”
“My main focus areas now are our transformation, ensuring Ubisoft’s long-term financial sustainability, and delivering games at the highest standard.”
Regarding employees’ unionization, Guillemot says, “transparency and open dialogue with our teams, in all its forms and especially in times of major change, are essential.”
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot talks Tencent, Vantage Studios, and AI
When asked about Ubisoft and Tencent’s partnership and its potential to impact long-term growth in Asian markets, Guillemot says Tencent’s “unparalleled knowledge of the Chinese ecosystem” will give Vantage Studios a leg up. “Their expertise will help us position our brands in a way that truly resonates with local players, while also acting as a powerful distribution partner. We see significant potential for franchises such as “Rainbow Six” to scale in China to levels comparable to — or even exceeding — other major markets in both player base and revenue.”
“More broadly, Tencent’s investments in Vantage Studios and in Ubisoft reflect a long-term partnership approach. They respect our operational autonomy and are not involved in our governance or day-to-day management. At the same time, they bring valuable industry insight and access to a strong network of leading players across the global gaming industry.”
The tumultuous Tencent team-up isn’t the only point of contention for fans of the French game publisher. Ubisoft, like many other triple-A industry brands, is increasingly embracing generative artificial intelligence (AI), a strategy tech leaders hope will cut costs and boost profits.
The company recently unveiled “Teammates,” which it calls “its first playable generative AI research project.” In a news release dated November 21, 2025, Ubisoft’s Daniel O’Connor said, “the playable experiment showcases the capabilities of an in-game AI, named Jaspar, as well as AI-enhanced NPCs who accompany and support the player dynamically, generating real-time responses and actions based on player voice commands.”
“The team behind the project aims to test the potential and limits of player interactions through natural speech, explore how generative AI can be used to enhance immersion, and test unique interactions that would not be possible without the technology.”
Ubisoft and Tencent’s Vantage Studios to revitalize classic IPs
Ubisoft subsidiary Vantage Studios has a “solid pipeline underway,” according to Guillemot, with beloved Ubisoft IPs like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six currently in the works. “Under the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ brand,” Guillemot explains, “several titles are in development, spanning both single-player and multiplayer experiences, with the ambition to further grow a community that exceeded 30 million players last year.”
The Ubisoft CEO continued, adding that Far Cry fans can anticipate two “very promising projects,” though no timeline is given. Rainbow Six is “coming back strongly,” he adds, “recently passing 2.5 million players daily … The Six Invitational in Paris drew impressive viewership on-site and online.” Data aggregators like SteamDB summarize player activity on the Valve-owned Steam platform. Similar console activity is harder to ascertain, but one December 2025 post on the Rainbow 6 subreddit shows PC player figures around 870,000, and console players at 980,000.
Guillemot also confirms “the highly-anticipated ‘Rainbow Six Mobile,’ which makes ‘Rainbow Six’ playable from anywhere, will now launch worldwide on February 23, 2026.”
Plans for Ubisoft and Tencent’s Vantage Studios
In addition to revisiting and revitalizing classic brand IPs, Guillemot says Vantage Studios’ “creative houses” allow for “focused innovation for both existing brands and new IP … We already have several new IPs in progress and look forward to sharing more soon.”
As the interview comes to a close, the Ubisoft CEO touches on his five-year plan. “Over the next five years, our ambition is to grow our existing franchises in ways that delight players,” adding that the brand’s action-adventure classics “have incredible potential.”
He then shifts gears to new projects: “[W]e want to reach new players, offer fresh experiences, and keep our communities engaged over time. The goal is to create new worlds where players want to come back, explore more, and enjoy new ways to play.”
“[W]e want to create the next generation of iconic Ubisoft franchises. New technologies and fresh ideas open doors to experiences that were impossible before, whether it’s accessibility, immersion, or gameplay innovation. Our goal is simple: to combine our existing strengths, embrace live experiences, and push creative boundaries to delight players.”
