Ubisoft has confirmed that the deal with Chinese conglomerate Tencent will be completed in the coming days.
Tencent will invest 1.16 billion euros ($1.25 billion) to deleverage the group and pave the way for the formation new subsidiary of Vantage Studioswhich will oversee Ubisoft's core franchises: Assassin's Creed, Far Cry and Rainbow Six.
The emerging division will under the leadership of co-CEOs Christophe Derenne and Charlie Guillemotthe latter of whom is the son of Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot.
Ubisoft will complete the design of its new division by the end of the year. Vantage will be formed from creative houses that will be “autonomous, efficient, focused and accountable business units”, each with its own leadership, creative vision and strategic roadmap.
Ubisoft shared this news in its financial report for the first half of the current financial year (FY 2025-26) which was released this morning following a reporting delay and trading halt.
“The closing of our strategic transaction with Tencent, which will see Tencent become a minority shareholder in our new subsidiary Vantage Studios, is now imminent as all preconditions have been met,” Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said in a statement.
“This marks a key milestone in Ubisoft's transformation, significantly strengthening our financial position by raising €1.16 billion in cash, which will enable the Group to deleverage as planned. It will also provide Vantage Studios with the opportunity to accelerate the growth of our three flagship IPs under the leadership of a dedicated leadership team.”
Ubisoft posts Q2 net bookings well ahead of forecast
Ubisoft said second-quarter net bookings beat expectations, rising 39 percent year-on-year to 490.9 million euros, beating forecasts of 450 million euros.
“In a highly competitive market, Ubisoft delivered above-forecast net bookings thanks to stronger-than-expected partnerships that underscore the appeal and reach of our brands. Our portfolio experienced contrasting dynamics this quarter, with softer trends for Rainbow Six Siege reflecting the game's evolution into the intense first-person shooter environment, offset by strong performance across the rest of the catalogue,” Guillemot continued.
“The Assassin's Creed franchise has exceeded our expectations, confirming its positive momentum and ability to engage players over time. “The Division 2 also continued to perform well, benefiting from the momentum of the Battle of Brooklyn DLC, with the game's first semester already exceeding last year's annual orders.”
It is noteworthy that Assassin's Creed Mirage reached 10 million players with the launch of Valley of Memory, a free narrative expansion set in Al-Ula (ancient Saudi Arabia) that was allegedly supported by the Saudi regime (thanks GameFile).
Ubisoft also confirmed that its cost-cutting initiatives remain “on track” and have led to the layoffs of 1,500 employees over the past 12 months.
Not all of these layoffs are a direct result of layoffs, as the company recently initiated targeted voluntary leave program (along with a proposed restructuring) in its Scandinavian studios.
The French publisher said its cost-cutting program targets additional fixed cost savings of at least €100 million by the 2026-27 financial year compared with the 2024-25 financial year and is “progressing well”.
