Ubisoft boss Yves Guillemot has been questioned over the way forward for his firm — and his personal place in it — as a part of a wide-ranging interview that additionally confirmed a number of Far Cry titles are in the works.
Talking to Variety, Guillemot was quizzed on his plans for Ubisoft following its current firm restructure and ongoing job losses (with one other 40 roles confirmed gone simply in a single day).
There have been questions, too, of his private response to (*2*), and to the persistent grumbles surrounding the appointment of his son Charlie Guillemot as co-CEO of Vantage Studios, the firm division now overseeing Ubisoft’s most prized franchises, together with Far Cry and Murderer’s Creed.
“On Far Cry, anticipation is excessive, and we presently have two very promising tasks in growth,” Guillemot stated, with out offering additional element. The franchise’s final title, Far Cry 6, launched in 2021. Earlier reporting has prompt that the subsequent entry will supply a extra radical improve to the sequence’ ordinary formulation.
On Murderer’s Creed, Guillemot famous the firm had “a number of titles” in growth, comprised of each single-player and multiplayer experiences. Again in 2022, Ubisoft introduced a raft of upcoming video games together with the now-launched Murderer’s Creed Shadows, the witchcraft-inspired Murderer’s Creed: Hexe (one other single-player blockbuster) and Invictus (a multiplayer sport). The corporate can also be widely-expected to announce its long-awaited Black Flag remake quickly.
“Ubisoft was created as a household firm, and our robust heritage helps us take a long-term view, prioritizing sustainable development, artistic ambition, and continuity over short-term cycles,” Guillemot stated when requested about the accusations of nepotism that surrounded Vantage Studios’ announcement. “This angle guides our selections and helps us construct franchises, groups, and methods that endure for many years.
“I strongly consider that Christophe Derennes and Charlie are the proper leaders as Co-CEOs of Vantage Studios. They bring about complementary strengths and expertise that make them well-suited for the function. Their appointment was primarily based on their expertise, observe report, and match for the function.”
Requested about the recently-scrapped Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake, Guillemot didn’t present additional element when requested how far lengthy the undertaking was. Varied growth groups spent half a decade engaged on the undertaking, and an actress believed to have been enjoying certainly one of its lead characters stated she had subsequently misplaced three years of labor.
“I absolutely perceive the official considerations of our groups in France and round the world,” Guillemot continued, when requested how Ubisoft was addressing worker considerations, notably round employees cuts and welfare. Guillemot was additionally requested for a response to requires him to resign — one thing he didn’t immediately tackle.
“Ubisoft goes by a serious section of transformation, affecting our group, operations, and tradition. Adjustments of this scale naturally increase questions and create stress, notably once they impression folks’s routines, and I acknowledge that. My dedication is to pay attention, lead responsibly, and preserve our groups engaged. At the similar time, we are able to’t ignore that we’re a part of an trade that’s extra aggressive and demanding than ever. Delivering at the stage of high quality and ambition our gamers anticipate requires robust alignment, pace of execution, and shut collaboration. The choices we’re making are guided by that actuality.
“My principal focus areas now are our transformation,” he concluded, “guaranteeing Ubisoft’s long-term monetary sustainability, and delivering video games at the highest customary.”
Tom Phillips is IGN’s Information Editor. You may attain Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or discover him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social