In this uncertain economy, not all brands are safe from the realities of change. Ubisoft is one such example, with the company’s performance in 2024 less than ideal. The lacklustre reception to tentpole titles like Star Wars Outlaws had led to lower numbers than expected, and has given rise to the proposition of Ubisoft selling some of its more popular IPs.
According to IGN, this development has actually made some headway. This claim was made by a minority shareholder, AJ Investments, which is currently holding a protest in front of Ubisoft’s headquarters in Paris.
The crux is that the company has failed to disclose supposed discussions to shareholders with Electronic Arts and Microsoft regarding potential sales. This information has also not been shared with the public. However, no further details have been provided regarding which specific game franchises the two tech giants are targeting.
As the stock price continues to struggle, AJ Investments views its current leadership as poorly managing the company. The firm is demanding a clearer roadmap for recovery, addressing various issues such as stock value, operational execution, and the company’s failure to adapt effectively to market trends.
“All shareholders/investors of Ubisoft deserve a company that maximizes value and operates with transparency and accountability,” Juraj Krúpa, CEO of AJ Investments, added. “Ubisoft has continued to underperform compared to its industry peers, and it is time for the company to listen to its shareholders. This demonstration will be a powerful statement from investors who believe in the company’s potential but demand urgent change.”
“As we mentioned during our Q3 sales, the review of various transformational strategic and capitalistic options is ongoing. The Board has established an ad-hoc independent Committee to oversee this formal and competitive process, so as to extract the best value from Ubisoft’s assets and franchises for all stakeholders. Ubisoft will inform the market in accordance with applicable regulations if and once a transaction materialises,” Ubisoft said in a statement provided to IGN.
This isn’t the first time that rumours of an acquisition of Ubisoft and its properties have surfaced, with Tencent a potential buyer as the gaming company seemingly lurches from one crisis to another. Neither EA nor Microsoft has released an official statement regarding these acquisition claims.
