Ubisoft Is On Life Support...

Summary

In this video, Mudahar discusses Ubisoft's decline as a company, highlighted by stock drops, delayed game releases, and poor-performing live-service games like 'Skull and Bones' and 'XDefiant.' He explores Ubisoft's struggles to innovate, citing bloated budgets and uninspired game design, especially in comparison to competitors like EA and Take-Two. Mudahar critiques Ubisoft's reliance on repetitive content and laments the state of beloved franchises like Assassin's Creed and Splinter Cell. He argues that Ubisoft's failure to adapt may lead to its eventual downfall, unless they change course by listening to their audience.

Takeaways

• 📉 Ubisoft's stock prices have dropped 31% recently, hitting a 10-year low, signaling significant financial trouble for the company.
• 🎮 Ubisoft's key franchises, like Assassin's Creed, are struggling, with delayed releases and disappointing sales numbers, particularly for recent games like Valhalla.
• ⚖️ Other major competitors, such as Electronic Arts and Take-Two, are experiencing growth, while Ubisoft is lagging behind.
• ⏳ Many of Ubisoft’s recent games, such as Assassin's Creed Valhalla, are criticized for being overly long and filled with unengaging, repetitive content.
• 🗺️ Ubisoft's open-world design formula is becoming stale, with players tired of the endless map markers and collectibles that feel like filler rather than meaningful content.
• 💰 Massive budget games like Skull and Bones are seen as financial disasters, with rumors suggesting its development has cost between $650 million and $850 million over a decade.
• 💔 Ubisoft's live service approach is also failing, as evidenced by low player numbers for Skull and Bones and declining interest in games like XDefiant.
• 👀 Ubisoft is heavily reliant on Assassin's Creed as its flagship series, much like how Rockstar Games depends on Grand Theft Auto.
• 🧩 Live service games can work, as seen with Ubisoft’s Rainbow Six Siege, but they need to offer genuine innovation and value to keep players engaged.
• 📦 Ubisoft’s strategy of pushing live service games and charging high prices for cosmetics and content, while also moving away from ownership models, is alienating its player base.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the video?

The video discusses the decline of Ubisoft as a company, specifically focusing on financial problems, poor game performance, and business decisions that are leading the company towards failure.

Why does the creator mention Ubisoft's stock prices?

The creator highlights Ubisoft's stock prices to illustrate the company's financial decline. He notes a 31% drop in the last month and explains how the company is at a 10-year low, indicating a broader problem.

What reasons does the creator give for Ubisoft's decline?

The creator points to delayed major games like Assassin's Creed and their Star Wars project, the high development costs that are not being met by sales, and an over-reliance on poorly executed live-service games.

How does the creator view Assassin's Creed in Ubisoft's lineup?

The creator views Assassin's Creed as Ubisoft's main breadwinner, comparing its importance to Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto. If Assassin's Creed fails, it would be catastrophic for Ubisoft.

What are the creator's thoughts on recent Assassin's Creed games like Valhalla?

The creator criticizes Assassin's Creed Valhalla for being overly long and repetitive, with only about 30% of the gameplay being enjoyable. He laments the shift from engaging, meaningful content to 'content for the sake of content.'

How does the creator describe Ubisoft's live-service model?

He describes Ubisoft's live-service model as poorly executed, particularly criticizing games like Skull and Bones, which he believes recycles old mechanics without meaningful innovation, and X Defiant, which fails to stand out in a crowded market.

What concerns does the creator have about Skull and Bones?

The creator is concerned about the astronomical development costs, which allegedly range from $650 to $850 million. He also criticizes the game for being a rehash of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag with little innovation.

What does the creator think about Ubisoft's business strategy regarding game ownership?

The creator criticizes Ubisoft for moving towards a model where players don't truly own their games, relying on live services and online connections. He believes this is a mistake, as gamers still prefer owning physical or digital copies outright.

What example does the creator give of a successful Ubisoft live-service game?

The creator mentions Rainbow Six Siege as a rare success for Ubisoft's live-service model, crediting its innovative gameplay and consistent updates with new maps and operators as key to its longevity.

What future does the creator foresee for Ubisoft if they continue down their current path?

The creator predicts that Ubisoft will continue to decline unless they listen to their player base and make meaningful changes. He expresses a hope that other companies might acquire Ubisoft's intellectual properties and do a better job with them.