Tencent and Guillemot Family May Spin Off Some Ubisoft Assets into New Company as Part of Reorganization

The Guillemot family and Tencent are currently exploring a potential reorganization of Ubisoft that may involve spinning off specific assets into a new joint venture. This strategic shift represents an alternative to a full company buyout, which had been previously discussed by the parties. While no final decisions have been reached regarding which studios or intellectual properties might be included in such an entity, the move is intended to provide Tencent with greater influence over key franchises while facilitating its expansion beyond the Chinese market.

The financial relationship between the two entities remains significant, as the Guillemot family holds a 15% stake in Ubisoft, while Tencent maintains a 10% stake and a 49.9% interest in Guillemot Brothers Ltd. Collectively, these parties control 25.4% of the publisher and 29.6% of the voting rights. These discussions are part of a broader effort by Ubisoft to address recent performance challenges, including the repeated delays of major titles like Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

In response to these ongoing pressures, Ubisoft has formally appointed advisors to evaluate various transformational and capitalistic options aimed at maximizing stakeholder value. Although negotiations were reportedly paused earlier in January 2025 to focus on the company’s immediate operational restructuring and product release schedule, the exploration of a spinoff remains a primary component of the firm's long-term strategic review.