Ubisoft Launches Its New Tencent-backed Subsidiary

Ubisoft has launched — and named — its Tencent-backed subsidiary. Vantage Studios is nan first of nan company's "creative houses" nether a previously-announced reorganization. The caller workplace will oversee nan company's tentpole franchises: Assassin's Creed, Far Cry and Rainbow Six.

The news follows Ubisoft's March announcement of a caller subsidiary pinch a €1.16 cardinal ($1.36 billion) finance from Tencent. The Chinese institution took a number ownership liking successful Vantage arsenic portion of nan deal. In July, Ubisoft named nan caller subsidiary's co-CEOs: Christophe Derennes and Charlie Guillemot.

"Our attraction is connected evolving Ubisoft's operating exemplary to bring much focus, much autonomy and much accountability to nan teams truthful they tin enactment intimately attuned to our players," Guillemot said astatine nan time. "Decision making will beryllium quicker, and it will besides beryllium easier to pivot erstwhile we request to alteration course."

Ubisoft's announcement coming reflected that language. The thought is to springiness its developers "a higher level of autonomy" astatine Vantage and early studios. It wants nan caller building to alteration "a shorter pathway betwixt gathering and implementing subordinate feedback."

Vantage is nan only imaginative location nan genitor institution has announced. The institution will group up early ones "under nan banner of a shared DNA and improvement expertise." However, it's unclear what different imaginative houses will activity on, pinch Vantage taking complete Ubisoft's bread-and-butter franchises.

Vantage's squad will beryllium dispersed crossed Ubisoft's offices successful Montréal, Quebec City, Sherbrooke, Saguenay, Barcelona and Sofia. Multiple gaming publications, including GamesIndustry.biz, reported that nan workplace began operations today. Ubisoft is said to person chosen "Vantage Studios" based connected a ballot by its 2,300 employees. As for Tencent, it will reportedly enactment successful an advisory role, pinch nan co-CEOs having nan last word.

Ubisoft was owed for immoderate large changes. The institution has endured big-name flops, workplace closures and layoffs. At slightest Assassin's Creed: Shadows has done well.

Incidentally, Assassin's Creed, Far Cry and Rainbow Six titles were among those added to Game Pass connected Wednesday. Microsoft seems to person intended that announcement to soften nan rustle of the service's 50 percent value hike. I'm not truthful judge it worked.