Ubisoft Faces Financial Scrutiny Amid Assassin's Creed Shadows Scandal

Ubisoft is currently exploring the creation of a new company aimed at attracting investors, focusing on selling key franchises like Assassin's Creed. According to Bloomberg, Ubisoft plans to divest a stake in this new entity and has initiated discussions with potential investors, including Tencent, along with various international and French funds. The anticipated market value of this new venture is projected to surpass Ubisoft's existing market capitalization of $1.8 billion.

However, the process remains in the discussion phase, and Ubisoft has not yet finalized any decisions. The company might opt to abandon this plan, with the outcome hinging on the success of their forthcoming release, Assassin's Creed Shadows. Ubisoft remains optimistic about this game, noting that pre-orders are steadily increasing.

Amidst these developments, Ubisoft faces another controversy in Japan. Takeshi Nagase, a member of both the Kobe City Council and the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly, has voiced strong objections to the depiction of religious themes in Assassin's Creed Shadows. He finds it offensive that the game allows players to attack monks in temples or shoot arrows at sacred structures. Additionally, Nagase is critical of the portrayal of the renowned Engyō-ji temple in Himeji, where the character Yasuke is shown entering with dirty shoes and damaging a sacred mirror.