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Fact check: If Assassin's Creed Shadows financially underperforms for Ubisoft, it will place the company in a very tenuous position.
1. Summary of the results
The original statement appears to be well-supported by multiple sources. Ubisoft is indeed in a precarious financial position, with their stock having lost over 90% of its value, dropping from €90 to €9 [1]. The company has delayed Assassin's Creed Shadows to March 20, 2025 [2], and this release is considered crucial for the company's future. Industry insider Jason Schreier suggests the game's performance could determine whether Ubisoft faces a "drastic reorganization" [3].
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
Several important contextual elements are missing from the original statement:
- Ubisoft is already actively exploring "transformational strategic and capitalistic options" [2]
- The company's recent game development investments have "delivered poor results" and their core titles' execution has "faltered" [4]
- The delay to March 20, 2025, is strategically timed to:
Avoid market uncertainty [2]
Ensure at least a break-even fiscal year [1]
- Potential buyers are already identified, including Tencent and Savvy Games Group, who might pursue a quick buyout if the game underperforms [3]
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The original statement, while accurate in its core premise, understates the severity of Ubisoft's current situation:
- It doesn't mention that Ubisoft is already in a financial crisis, described by analysts as a "total meltdown" [1]
- The statement implies future risk, while sources indicate the company is already struggling with generating consistent revenue [4]
- The next year is expected to be "bumpy" regardless of the game's performance [4]
Several parties have vested interests in this situation:
- Potential buyers like Tencent and Savvy Games Group could benefit from Ubisoft's struggles by acquiring the company at a lower valuation
- Current shareholders, who have already seen significant losses, would be heavily impacted by the game's performance
- Competitors in the gaming industry could benefit from Ubisoft's potential restructuring or market share loss