Ubisoft's Financial Tactics and New Assassin's Creed Shadows Scandal

Ubisoft is currently considering the formation of a new company, aimed at attracting investors by focusing on the sale of its key franchises, including the renowned Assassin's Creed series. According to Bloomberg, the company is in the process of negotiating the sale of a stake in this new entity. Potential investors include tech giant Tencent, as well as a variety of international and French investment funds. The anticipated market value of this new company is projected to surpass Ubisoft's existing market capitalization of $1.8 billion.

However, these plans are still in the discussion phase, with no final decisions having been made. Ubisoft may choose to abandon this strategy, particularly depending on the performance of the upcoming release, Assassin's Creed Shadows. Ubisoft has reported that pre-orders for the game are progressing well, and the company has placed significant expectations on its success.

These developments are unfolding amidst another controversy surrounding the game in Japan. Takeshi Nagase, a member of both the Kobe City Council and the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly, has publicly criticized Ubisoft's depiction of religious themes in Assassin's Creed Shadows. Nagase finds it offensive that the game allows players to attack monks in temples or shoot arrows at sacred structures. Furthermore, he has specifically called out the portrayal of the historic Engyō-ji temple in Himeji, where the character Yasuke is shown entering with dirty shoes and damaging a sacred mirror, actions which Nagase deems disrespectful.