Ubisoft Faces Financial Scrutiny Amid Assassin's Creed Shadows Controversy

Ubisoft is considering the formation of a new company aimed at attracting investors by focusing on the sale of key franchises such as Assassin's Creed. According to Bloomberg, Ubisoft has initiated discussions to sell a stake in this new entity, engaging with potential investors like Tencent, alongside various international and French funds. The market value of this proposed company is anticipated to surpass Ubisoft's current market capitalization of $1.8 billion.

However, the plan remains in the discussion phase, with no final decisions made yet. Ubisoft might opt to abandon the idea, with the outcome hinging largely on the success of the upcoming release of Assassin's Creed Shadows. The company remains optimistic about the game, noting that pre-orders are progressing steadily.

Amidst these developments, Ubisoft is facing another controversy in Japan. Takeshi Nagase, a member of both the Kobe City Council and the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly, has voiced strong objections to Ubisoft's handling of religious themes in Assassin's Creed Shadows. Nagase finds it offensive that the game allows players to attack monks in temples or shoot arrows at sacred buildings. He is particularly critical of the depiction of the renowned Engyō-ji temple in Himeji, where the protagonist Yasuke is shown entering with dirty shoes and damaging a sacred mirror within the temple.