Ubisoft is exploring a potential spin-off company to attract investors, focusing on key franchises like Assassin's Creed. Bloomberg reports negotiations are underway with potential investors, including Tencent and various international and French funds, aiming for a market valuation exceeding Ubisoft's current $1.8 billion capitalization. However, this plan remains under discussion and may be abandoned. Its success hinges on the performance of the upcoming Assassin's Creed Shadows, whose pre-orders are reportedly progressing well.
This strategic move comes amidst a fresh controversy in Japan. Kobe City Council and Hyogo Prefectural Assembly member Takeshi Nagase criticized Ubisoft's handling of religious themes in Shadows. Nagase objects to the protagonist's ability to attack monks and temples, specifically citing the game's depiction of Engyō-ji temple in Himeji, where the protagonist "enters with dirty shoes and destroys the sacred mirror."