Ubisoft Faces Financial Scandal with Assassin's Creed Shadows

Ubisoft is currently considering the formation of a new company dedicated to selling its key franchises, including the renowned Assassin's Creed series. According to Bloomberg, the studio aims to attract investors by offering a stake in this new venture. Negotiations are reportedly underway with potential investors such as Tencent, along with various international and French funds. The anticipated market value of this new entity is projected to surpass Ubisoft's current valuation of $1.8 billion.

However, the plan remains in the discussion phase, and Ubisoft has not yet made a final decision. The success of the upcoming release, Assassin's Creed Shadows, plays a pivotal role in these deliberations. Ubisoft has expressed optimism about the game, citing steady pre-order progress.

Amidst these developments, Ubisoft is facing another controversy in Japan concerning Assassin's Creed Shadows. Takeshi Nagase, a member of the Kobe City Council and the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly, has publicly criticized the game's handling of religious themes. Nagase finds it objectionable that the game's protagonist can engage in hostile actions against monks within temple premises and even target these sacred spaces with arrows. Additionally, he has voiced concerns over the depiction of the historic Engyō-ji temple in Himeji, where the character Yasuke is shown entering with dirty shoes and damaging a sacred mirror, actions that Nagase finds deeply disrespectful.