Ubisoft is currently exploring the creation of a new company aimed at attracting investors by focusing on selling key franchises such as Assassin's Creed. According to Bloomberg, the company is considering selling a stake in this new entity and has initiated negotiations with potential investors, including Tencent, as well as various international and French funds. The market value of this proposed new company is projected to surpass Ubisoft's current capitalization of $1.8 billion.
While discussions are ongoing, Ubisoft has not yet finalized its decision on this plan. The outcome hinges significantly on the performance of the upcoming release, Assassin's Creed Shadows, which Ubisoft is banking on heavily. The company reports that pre-orders for the game are steadily progressing.
These developments coincide with a new controversy surrounding Assassin's Creed Shadows in Japan. Takeshi Nagase, a member of both the Kobe City Council and the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly, has voiced strong objections to Ubisoft's handling of religious themes in the game. Nagase finds it unacceptable that players can control the protagonist to attack monks in temples or shoot arrows at such sacred sites. He specifically criticized the depiction of the renowned Engyō-ji temple in Himeji, where the character Yasuke is shown entering with dirty shoes and destroying a sacred mirror inside.
