Mass Woke PANIC as Concord & Star Wars Outlaws Sales BURN + Ubisoft Executives FLEE Industry?!

Summary

In this video, the host discusses Ubisoft's recent struggles, including plummeting stock prices and internal conflicts, leading to a potential proxy war. They critique the performance of 'Star Wars Outlaws' and its lead actor's controversial statements on industry misogyny. The video also touches on the backlash against woke narratives in gaming, using 'Concord' as an example, and argues for a return to player-centric game design.

Takeaways

• 📉 Ubisoft's stock price has plummeted significantly, dropping 7% in a day, 16% in 5 days, and around 41% in the last 3 months, leading to a loss of nearly 50% of its value in the past year alone.
• 🎮 The company's market cap has seen a drastic decrease from its peak in 2020 when 'Assassin's Creed Valhalla' was released, falling from around $80 per share to $13.67 per share currently.
• 🚫 Ubisoft has been criticized for producing games that feel 'homogeneous and safe,' lacking innovation and relying heavily on live service models to generate revenue.
• 💣 The game 'Star Wars Outlaws' is underperforming, with sales being 'soft' and not meeting expectations, contributing to the company's financial struggles.
• 🌐 There's an internal conflict within Ubisoft, with investors pushing for changes in management and direction, including the possibility of taking the company private.
• 💬 Actress Humbertly Gonzalez, who plays the lead in 'Star Wars Outlaws,' has commented on the misogyny she perceives in the video game industry and has praised the game for its female perspective.
• 🔥 The video script suggests a broader issue within the gaming industry, with a pushback against identity politics and a call for more traditional game designs that resonate with a wider audience.
• 🤝 There's a call for the industry to listen to player feedback and to focus on creating games that are well-received rather than pushing a narrative that may not align with consumer preferences.
• 💸 The potential sale of Ubisoft's IPs like 'Assassin's Creed' or 'Far Cry' is discussed as a possible outcome if the company's financial situation doesn't improve.
• 🚀 The script concludes with a rallying cry for a change in the industry, advocating for games that are free from what is perceived as forced identity politics and a return to quality game design.

Q & A

What is the current state of Ubisoft's stock price?

Ubisoft's stock price has significantly dropped. It was around $80 per share at its market high point in 2020 but has now fallen to $13.67 per share, reflecting a loss of approximately 81% of its value compared to its peak.

Why is Ubisoft facing criticism from investors?

Investors are pressuring Ubisoft to take the company private due to poor performance, with the stock price dropping 7% in one day, 16% in the last 5 days, and around 41% in the last 3 months, leading to a significant loss in market value.

What are the reasons behind Ubisoft's decline in market value?

Ubisoft's decline is attributed to the cancellation of several games, a lack of new content to generate revenue, and their games not selling as well as they used to. Additionally, their games have been criticized for being homogeneous and overly focused on live service monetization.

How has the game Star Wars Outlaws performed in terms of sales?

Star Wars Outlaws has performed poorly, with sales described as 'soft' and outperforming another poorly selling game, Avatar Frontiers of Pandora, by only 15%.

What is the controversy surrounding the lead actor of Star Wars Outlaws, Humbertly Gonzalez?

Humbertly Gonzalez, who plays the lead character Kestis in Star Wars Outlaws, has been criticized for her comments suggesting that the video game industry has a misogyny problem and praising the game for focusing on a female point of view, which some perceive as alienating potential players.

What is the main criticism against the character design of Kestis in Star Wars Outlaws?

The main criticism is that the character Kestis looks 'weird' and 'ugly', which some attribute to a deliberate effort to desexualize female characters in games, while others argue it could be due to technical limitations or artistic choices.

What is the investor firm AJ Investments' stance on Ubisoft's current management?

AJ Investments opposes Ubisoft's current management, led by the Guillemot family, and believes the company is mismanaged. They suggest Ubisoft should be taken private, restructured, and consider selling non-core studios to streamline operations and focus on main IPs.

What potential outcomes are discussed for Ubisoft if the current issues are not resolved?

If Ubisoft does not resolve its current issues, potential outcomes include a hostile takeover, selling off of IPs like Assassin's Creed or Far Cry, or the company going into a 'fire sale' mode, leading to layoffs and potentially ceasing to exist.

What is the opinion of the speaker regarding the Western games industry's approach to character design?

The speaker believes that the Western games industry, including Ubisoft, is intentionally designing characters in a less attractive way as a form of identity politics, which is not resonating with players and leading to poor game sales.

What is the speaker's view on the future of the gaming industry in relation to 'woke' content?

The speaker is optimistic that the gaming industry is moving away from 'woke' content and believes that games pushing such narratives are failing. They predict a future where players will not be subjected to this type of content and the industry will focus on delivering what the players want.