Ubisoft

Ubisoft is a French video game developer and publisher headquartered in Montreuil, founded in March 1986 by five brothers from the Guillemot family in Carentoir, Brittany. They are one of the largest video game companies in the world by revenue, with offices and studios across dozens of countries. Their best-known franchises include Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, Watch Dogs, Rayman, The Crew, and For Honor. Ubisoft has faced significant criticism over workplace culture issues, executive misconduct allegations, and a business strategy that many players feel prioritizes open world quantity over quality.

Ubisoft Key Franchises

Assassin’s Creed

The Assassin’s Creed series launched in 2007 and has become one of gaming’s most prolific franchises with over 20 mainline entries. The series pivoted to RPG mechanics with Origins in 2017, followed by Odyssey and Valhalla as massive open world titles. Assassin’s Creed Shadows released in March 2025 after a controversial delay and generated significant pre-release discussion over its setting and protagonist choices. It became one of Ubisoft’s best-selling launches.

Far Cry and Other Open World Games

Far Cry 3 in 2012 established the template that the franchise, and much of Ubisoft’s catalog, has followed since: open world map, outpost clearing, crafting systems, and an eccentric villain. The formula has been applied to Far Cry, Watch Dogs, Ghost Recon, and numerous other series with varying results. The criticism that all Ubisoft games feel the same is not entirely unfair, though individual entries within each series have found their audiences.

Watch Dogs for instance, while open world, does not feel like the Division or The Crew. Despite the similarities in game play, the story, side missions, etc make each franchise and sometimes even a game in an existing franchise, feel entire different.

The Current State of Ubisoft

Ubisoft has been in a difficult period. Multiple high-profile games underperformed commercially including Skull and Bones and Star Wars Outlaws, the latter receiving a significant discount and update shortly after launch. The company cancelled several projects, conducted layoffs, and faced calls for leadership changes. CEO Yves Guillemot has faced shareholder pressure. Tencent and the Guillemot family have explored options including a potential buyout or restructuring. Assassin’s Creed Shadows performing well has provided some relief but the long-term picture for Ubisoft as an independent company remains uncertain.