Ubisoft Faces Financial Scrutiny Amid Assassin's Creed Shadows Controversy

Ubisoft is currently exploring the creation of a new company dedicated to selling key franchises like Assassin's Creed. According to Bloomberg, Ubisoft aims to attract investors by selling a stake in this new entity. The company has initiated discussions with potential investors, including Tencent, and various international and French funds. The anticipated market value of this new company is projected to surpass Ubisoft's current market capitalization of $1.8 billion.

The plan remains in the discussion phase, with no final decisions made yet. Ubisoft may choose to abandon the idea, depending on the success of their upcoming release, Assassin's Creed Shadows. The company reports steady pre-order progress for the game, which is crucial for their strategic decisions.

This development coincides with another controversy surrounding Assassin's Creed Shadows in Japan. Takeshi Nagase, a member of the Kobe City Council and the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly, has voiced strong objections to the game's portrayal of religious themes. He finds it offensive that the protagonist can attack monks and temples, particularly highlighting the depiction of the Engyō-ji temple in Himeji, where the character Yasuke is shown entering with dirty shoes and destroying a sacred mirror.