The year 2024 will be one of the most difficult periods in history Ubisoft. A company known as one of the publisher and developer The world's biggest game had a series of major failures that not only hurt them financially, but also shook their reputation in the eyes of gamers.
According to PC GamerUbisoft now faces a huge challenge to turn things around in the coming year.
Ubisoft's Back-to-Back Failures
Starting with the launch of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora in December 2023, the game was expected to be one of the big titles to gain success like the movie. However, the reality was much different. The cold reception from players and the not-all-positive reviews made the game quickly see a price drop just a few weeks after release.
Skull and Bones, an ambitious project that had experienced many delays, was finally released in 2024. Unfortunately, the game failed to deliver a compelling pirate experience. Many critics said the game didn't have strong enough elements to compete, especially when compared to the likes of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, which was the main inspiration.
Other titles, Star Wars Outlaws, nor was it able to live up to expectations despite positive reviews. High expectations from fans Star Wars did not translate into significant sales figures. In fact, it delayed other flagship games, Assassin's Creed ShadowsThe delay to February 2025 further aggravates the situation. Ubisoft admitted that this delay was done to ensure the quality of the game meets fans' expectations.
Internal Company Structure Disruption
The series of failures not only impacted Ubisoft's reputation, but also affected the company's internal conditions. One example is the disbandment of the development team Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Although the game was praised by critics, sales fell short of the target and Ubisoft made the tough decision to disband the team.
In addition, another ambitious project, XDefiant, was forced to be discontinued. This closure had a direct impact on the termination of 277 employees, as well as the closure of two development studios. This decision is one of Ubisoft's drastic measures in an effort to reduce the growing losses.
Reputational and Financial Crisis
Financially, Ubisoft's situation is in dire straits. The company's stock has dropped drastically from its highest value of US$85 in early 2021 to around US$13 by the end of 2024. This fueled speculation that Ubisoft was on the verge of an acquisition. The Guillemot family, Ubisoft's founders, are rumored to be exploring options to take the company private with the help of Tencent.
However, this move may not solve the problems faced by Ubisoft. Many fans are starting to lose faith in the company's ability to produce quality games. The trust that has been built over decades is now starting to waver.
2025 is the most crucial year for Ubisoft
With delays Assassin's Creed Shadows until February 2025, Ubisoft strives to provide the best quality for players. This game is expected to be the company's turning point in rebuilding their reputation. However, given the string of failures in 2024, the challenges Ubisoft faces are not light.
The year 2025 will be a crucial moment for Ubisoft. Success Assassin's Creed Shadows and several other projects will determine whether the company is able to rise from the brink or continue to be trapped in a cycle of failure. For fans, there is still great hope, but Ubisoft will have to work hard to prove that they still deserve to be at the top of the gaming industry.
