- Ubisoft and Tencent’s new subsidiary is called Vantage Studios and will lead IPs such as Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six.
- All Ubisoft development teams will operate under a decentralized model in the future, granting them greater autonomy over their projects.
- Employees not part of Vantage Studios worry for their future in the company.
Following several flops and canceled titles, Ubisoft’s stock has fallen by a whopping 90% compared to five years ago. As such, the publisher decided to team up with the Chinese gaming giant Tencent to form a new subsidiary focused on developing its major IPs.
A new report has shed more light on this partnership. The subsidiary will result in a new developer called Vantage Studios, which will be responsible for major IPs such as Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry.
Why it matters: While Ubisoft may have lost its charm, we cannot overlook the fact that it has produced some of the best franchises in gaming history. This subsidiary will potentially save those IPs from further damage.
Eurogamer reports that Vantage Studios will comprise 2,300 employees from teams in Montreal, Quebec, Sherbrooke, Saguenay, Sofia, and Barcelona, and is expected to start operations as soon as today.
The best part about this subsidiary is that it will operate on a less centralized model compared to other Ubisoft studios. Eurogamers’ sources say that this will allow ‘developers to be more fluid, and pivot according to industry changes and player expectations’
Going forward, all Ubisoft teams are expected to work in a decentralized manner.
This will give each team more authority and direction over their projects, which seems to be a promising omen of good things to come.
Tencent will own a 25% stake in this subsidiary and will assume an advisory role. Other than that, Christophe Derennes and Charlie Guillemot will lead the new studio, which has already sparked some controversy.
Currently, Ubisoft has nearly 20,000 staff members employed, and considering that 2,300 staff members have been reduced, it’s unknown how the publisher will move forward. There are a few major IPs left after this subsidiary, and the future of these remaining employees remains uncertain.
Some of these employees were already concerned that they might get laid off following this announcement and claimed that they were unclear about what was happening internally.
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[Staff Writer]
Shaheer is currently pursuing a Business degree while also working as a part-time Content Writer. With his deep passion for both writing and video games, he has seamlessly transitioned into a role as a Journalist. Over the past two years, Shaheer has contributed as a freelancer to various websites and landed positions on acclaimed platforms like Gamerant. Currently, his role at Tech4gamers is as a Features Writer, but he also covers News occasionally. Shaheer’s favorite gaming franchises are Assassin’s Creed and the God of War series.
Get In Touch: shaheerzahid03@gmail.com