Ubisoft Spins Off $4.3 Billion Powerhouse Studio – Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and More Go Under New Banner Backed by Tencent

Ubisoft just made its boldest move in years — and it involves some of the most iconic franchises in gaming history. The French video game titan has spun off a brand-new €4 billion ($4.3 billion) subsidiary that now holds the keys to Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six. Even wilder? Tencent, the Chinese tech juggernaut, is now a quarter-owner of this franchise-packed machine.

And yes, this is the kind of studio consolidation that actually feels like a plot twist.

🎮 A New Home for Legendary Franchises

The new Ubisoft subsidiary will serve as a creative and operational hub for some of the company’s most valuable IPs. Think of it as a "best of Ubisoft" studio on steroids. It includes teams from:

Ubisoft Montréal
Quebec
Barcelona
Sofia
Saguenay
Sherbrooke

That’s not just a random list — these are the studios behind the core development of almost every major Ubisoft tentpole title in the past two decades.

According to Ubisoft, the move aims to consolidate narrative-driven single-player and evolving multiplayer development into a faster, leaner operation. In other words: expect more from these franchises — and faster.

💰 Tencent Buys In — €1.16 Billion Worth

Tencent, already a major player in global gaming, is putting down a cool €1.16 billion (around $1.25 billion) for a 25% stake in the new spin-off.

This gives Tencent minority rights — not control — but it sends a very clear signal: Tencent wants deeper ties to globally loved IP. And Ubisoft wants a stronger financial backbone to weather an unpredictable market.

It’s a win-win. Ubisoft gets capital and operational flexibility. Tencent gets a foothold in the franchises that helped define AAA gaming.

🧠 Yves Guillemot: “This Is About the Future”

Ubisoft CEO and co-founder Yves Guillemot didn’t mince words. In the official announcement, he called the move a major milestone in “crystallizing the value of our assets” and ensuring the “long-term success of our franchises.”

Translation? Ubisoft knows where its bread is buttered — and this spin-out is about preserving and supercharging the IP that built the Ubisoft empire.

It also helps that Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the latest entry in the series, has been a massive hit. It raked in over 3 million players in a matter of weeks and generated record-breaking revenue. Ubisoft is clearly playing offense while the scoreboard’s in their favor.

📈 So Why Do This Now?

Let’s be honest — Ubisoft hasn’t had the smoothest ride in recent years. Delays, internal restructuring, and intense competition from studios like FromSoftware, Sony Santa Monica, and Rockstar have put pressure on the French giant.

This spin-off is partly about unlocking value. By creating a focused, agile team around blockbuster IP, Ubisoft can:

Speed up development cycles
Increase creative output
Secure new partnerships
Improve its balance sheet
And prep for the next era of gaming (read: AI, live services, and global expansion)

🧊 What This Means for Gamers

If you love stealthy parkour across historical rooftops, high-octane tactical shootouts, or exploding outposts with flamethrowers… this is good news.

Ubisoft is signaling that these franchises aren’t going anywhere — in fact, they’re being prioritized in a massive way. Faster content drops, more frequent updates, and stronger creative direction are all on the table.

Tencent’s involvement may raise eyebrows, but it’s important to note that Ubisoft retains majority control. This isn’t a takeover. It’s a turbo boost.

🕹️ What's Next?

The deal is expected to close by the end of 2025, pending regulatory approvals. But the new team is already operational, and insiders suggest we’ll see major project reveals by early 2026.

This new studio could mark the beginning of a Ubisoft renaissance — or at least a cleaner, more focused phase for the publisher’s most beloved games.

Either way, one thing’s clear: the Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy universes just got a whole new sandbox to play in.

And the rest of us? We just got front-row seats.