When it comes to games developed by Ubisoft, they’ve gotten into a pattern of featuring remarkably similar open-world maps that are just unique enough to be successful. Still, though, the publisher has given us iconic franchises like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Splinter Cell.
Unfortunately, there appears to be growing pain in the studio’s formula as gamers have grown tired of it. This has taken a direct hit on Ubisoft’s stock price and is a major concern for the publisher going forward.
Ubisoft Stocks Continue to Dip, and Gamers Have Lost Hope
It’s fair to say that the last couple of years haven’t been really kind to Ubisoft. Even though the publisher tried to bring major entries in its Assassin’s Creed franchise and even new games such as Skull and Bones, they’ve all clearly failed, and gamers have lost their hope for the company.
Ubisoft’s recent failures and the current gaming landscape have certainly taken their toll on the company’s share price. The company’s overall value has plummeted significantly, and it’s even less than it was back in 2000.
fun fact: ubisoft is now worth 20% less than in year 2000. pic.twitter.com/ncjA7LYdgY
— Pirat_Nation 🔴 (@Pirat_Nation) August 23, 2024
As pointed out by one player, Ubisoft’s stock price looks even worse if you take into account the inflation in recent years. This is shocking, considering the fact that the publisher hadn’t even hit its peak in the 2000s.
When you take inflation into account it's even worse than it looks
— Pauls Gaming Live (@PaulsGamingLive) August 23, 2024
Well, it’s no surprise to see the company struggle like this. The recent delays in releases, the horrendous performance of highly anticipated games, and the increased competition are now catching up to the company.
There’s only one way out of this for the French publisher, and that’s finally making a game that isn’t straight-up trash. Considering the fact that the company has all the resources it could ever need and some of the most iconic franchises, it’s really surprising how badly they’ve fumbled everything.
Let’s hope that with the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the publisher finally cracks the code after years and gets a hit game under its belt. This could be the turning point for Ubisoft to regain investor confidence and avoid the threat of bankruptcy.
Ubisoft is Sadly Continuing With Layoffs
It’s pretty clear that the falling Ubisoft stocks are still affecting its employees. According to a Bloomberg report, the publisher is facing another round of layoffs and is now letting go of a combined 45 employees across its American studios in California, San Francisco, and Cary, North Carolina, this week.
The source suggests that the French publisher has called the layoffs a “difficult yet necessary” move, which was done to help the company grow and suit the development objectives.
It also mentioned that the publisher will provide severance pay and career-related guidance to employees who were laid off. What’s really interesting is the fact that the Cary-based office, also called Red Storm Entertainment, was the mind behind The Division spinoff, which was axed back in May.
These latest rounds of layoffs come at a very crucial period for Ubisoft, where major games such as Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Star Wars Outlaws are all set to hit the shelves in the near future.
How do you think Ubisoft can regain its lost glory? Let us know in the comments.
