Ubisoft Faces Financial Scandal Over Assassin's Creed Shadows

Ubisoft is currently exploring the creation of a new company aimed at attracting investors, with a focus on selling key franchises such as Assassin's Creed. According to Bloomberg, the studio is planning to sell a stake in this new entity and has initiated discussions with potential investors, including Tencent, alongside various international and French funds. The anticipated market value of this new company is projected to surpass Ubisoft's current market capitalization of $1.8 billion.

However, these plans remain in the discussion phase, and Ubisoft has not yet made a final decision. The success of this venture hinges significantly on the performance of the upcoming release, Assassin's Creed Shadows, for which Ubisoft has high expectations. The company reports that pre-orders for the game are steadily progressing.

Amidst these developments, Ubisoft faces another controversy in Japan. Takeshi Nagase, a member of both the Kobe City Council and the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly, has voiced strong objections to Ubisoft's handling of religious themes in Assassin's Creed Shadows. Nagase finds it unacceptable that the game allows the protagonist to attack monks in temples or shoot arrows at such sacred places. He is particularly critical of the portrayal of the renowned Engyō-ji temple in Himeji, where the character Yasuke is depicted entering with dirty shoes and destroying a sacred mirror inside.