Ubisoft's New Financial Schemes and Another Scandal with Assassin's Creed Shadows

Ubisoft is exploring a potential spin-off company to attract investors, focusing on key franchises like Assassin's Creed. Bloomberg reports negotiations are underway with potential investors, including Tencent and several international and French funds, aiming for a market valuation exceeding Ubisoft's current $1.8 billion capitalization. However, this plan remains under discussion and could be abandoned. Its success hinges significantly on the upcoming release of Assassin's Creed Shadows, whose pre-orders are reportedly progressing well.

This strategic move unfolds amidst a new controversy in Japan. Kobe City Council and Hyogo Prefectural Assembly member Takeshi Nagase criticized Ubisoft's handling of religious themes in Shadows. Nagase objects to the protagonist's ability to attack monks and temples, specifically citing the portrayal of Engyō-ji temple in Himeji, where, according to Nagase, the protagonist "enters with dirty shoes and destroys the sacred mirror inside."