Ubisoft Decides to Invest Additional Development Time in Three Games

Ubisoft is extending development timelines for three upcoming titles to prioritize product quality and long-term engagement. Far Cry 5 has been delayed by one month to March 2018, while The Crew 2 has been shifted to the first half of fiscal 2018-19. Additionally, one of three previously planned unannounced franchise games has been pushed to fiscal 2019-20. This strategic decision follows the successful performance of Assassin’s Creed Origins, where extended development time directly correlated with improved commercial outcomes and creative execution.

Despite the adjusted release schedule, the company reports strong sales momentum across both new releases and its back-catalog throughout November 2017. Consequently, Ubisoft has revised its fiscal 2017-18 profitability targets upward, projecting a record-high non-IFRS operating margin of 16.5%, up from the previous guidance of 15.9%. While the sales target for 2017-18 has been adjusted to €1,640 million, the non-IFRS operating income remains steady at €270 million.

Looking toward fiscal 2018-19, the company maintains its financial targets, including €2,100 million in sales and €440 million in non-IFRS operating income. The business model continues to shift toward a more recurring revenue profile, characterized by higher digital sales and sustained back-catalog performance. This transition provides greater visibility for future performance, even as the company expects lower unit sales for its four major AAA releases. These updates reflect a broader corporate strategy to enhance profitability and product quality through a more disciplined and flexible development approach.