Les incompétents

Ubisoft is currently facing a severe corporate crisis characterized by declining market confidence, operational instability, and a failure to adapt to shifting industry trends. The publisher’s recent announcement of a sweeping restructuring plan—which includes the reorganization of operations into five creative houses, a global return-to-office mandate, and the closure of studios in Stockholm and Halifax—has failed to reassure investors. Instead, the company’s share price plummeted by 40% following the news, contributing to a total valuation decline of over 90% since 2018.

The scope of the publisher's retrenchment is significant, involving the cancellation of six projects, including the long-anticipated Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake, and the delay of seven additional titles. These actions, alongside layoffs at studios such as Massive and RedLynx, reflect a broader struggle to maintain a viable release pipeline. The company’s strategic pivot toward open-world adventures and generative AI-focused games appears disconnected from current player sentiment and market realities, further exacerbating its reputational decline.

Beyond financial and operational failures, the organization continues to grapple with the long-term consequences of mismanaged internal scandals and high-level leadership departures. The loss of key creative talent and ongoing legal challenges, such as constructive dismissal lawsuits from former executives, underscore a deepening institutional instability. Ultimately, the publisher’s inability to effectively manage its core franchises or respond to evolving industry standards has led to a consensus that its current trajectory is unsustainable, leaving the company in a precarious position with little prospect for immediate recovery.