Investors Want to Sell Ubisoft Amid Terrible Performance

Ubisoft is facing significant challenges following the disappointing sales of Star Wars Outlaws. The game, expected to be a major success, has sold only one million copies in its first month, compared to five million copies of Assassin’s Creed Mirage in three months, which was also not a highly acclaimed title.

This underperformance has led to a three-month delay for Assassin’s Creed Shadows and a lowered financial outlook for the year. Ubisoft now projects bookings of around $2.1 billion with second-quarter net bookings down to $387-$410 million from the initial $554 million forecast. With Ubisoft’s shares at a 10-year low, investors are urging the company to consider a sale.

Ubisoft, which is now considering releasing Assassin’s Creed Shadows with a season pass, has said:

The revised targets are mainly a reflection of decisions taken for Assassin’s Creed Shadows and the softer than expected launch for Star Wars Outlaws.

Activist investor AJ Investments, holding less than 1% of Ubisoft shares, is reportedly collaborating with other shareholders to pressure the company into considering acquisition by private equity firms or Chinese gaming giant Tencent.

Last week, AJ Investments claimed to have garnered support from 10% of Ubisoft shareholders and is scheduled to meet with Ubisoft management today to discuss the proposal. The investor has even threatened to protest outside Ubisoft’s Paris headquarters if necessary.

Concerns are mounting that Assassin’s Creed Shadows may follow Star Wars Outlaws‘ disappointing sales trend, potentially impacting future Ubisoft releases despite planned day-one Steam launches.

Ubisoft’s reputation among gamers has been historically negative, having been labeled the “most-hated gaming brand” multiple times. Some attribute Outlaws‘ poor reception to online criticism targeting Ubisoft games and recent Star Wars media.