Ubisoft Faces Financial Scrutiny Amid Assassin's Creed Shadows Controversy

Ubisoft, the renowned game development studio, is currently exploring the possibility of establishing a new company aimed at attracting investors. This new entity would primarily focus on selling key franchises such as Assassin's Creed. According to a report by Bloomberg, Ubisoft is in the process of selling a stake in this proposed new company and has already initiated discussions with potential investors, including the tech giant Tencent, as well as various international and French funds. The market value of this new venture is anticipated to surpass Ubisoft's current market capitalization, which stands at approximately $1.8 billion.

However, the plan to create this new company is still in the discussion phase, and Ubisoft has not yet made a final decision. The success of this potential venture heavily depends on the performance of the upcoming release, Assassin's Creed Shadows, which Ubisoft is counting on to bolster its market position. The company has reported that pre-orders for the game are progressing steadily, indicating a positive reception so far.

Amidst these developments, Ubisoft finds itself embroiled in another controversy, this time in Japan. Takeshi Nagase, a member of the Kobe City Council and the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly, has publicly criticized Ubisoft's handling of religious themes in Assassin's Creed Shadows. Nagase finds it unacceptable that the game's protagonist can engage in acts such as attacking monks within temples or shooting arrows at these sacred places. He is particularly offended by the depiction of the famous Engyō-ji temple in Himeji, where the character Yasuke is shown entering with dirty shoes and destroying a sacred mirror inside. This portrayal has sparked significant backlash in the region.