Ubisoft Forms New Subsidiary With Tencent to Oversee Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry & Rainbow Six Franchises
Ubisoft has officially announced the formation of a new subsidiary in partnership with Tencent, focused entirely on its three most successful franchises—Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six. This move follows months of speculation and represents a significant restructuring of Ubisoft’s intellectual property management and development strategy.
Tencent Acquires 25% Minority Stake for €1.16 Billion
In this newly formed subsidiary, Tencent will hold a 25% minority stake through a €1.16 billion investment, signaling the deepening of its relationship with Ubisoft. While Ubisoft retains majority control, Tencent’s involvement brings not only capital but also strategic influence, especially in markets like China and Southeast Asia.
The new entity will include the development teams currently working on the franchises in the following Ubisoft studios:
Montréal
Quebec
Sherbrooke
Saguenay
Barcelona
Sofia
This includes ownership of the existing back catalog and all new games currently in development or planned under these franchises.
Exclusive, Irrevocable License from Ubisoft
Ubisoft will grant the new subsidiary a worldwide, exclusive, and irrevocable license to use the intellectual property and related proprietary rights for Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six. In return, Ubisoft will receive royalty payments, effectively turning this new venture into a semi-independent content powerhouse.
Leadership Vision
Yves Guillemot, Co-Founder and CEO of Ubisoft, explained the rationale behind the bold move:
“With the creation of a dedicated subsidiary that will spearhead development for three of our largest franchises and the onboarding of Tencent as a minority investor, we are crystalizing the value of our assets, strengthening our balance sheet, and creating the best conditions for these franchises’ long-term growth and success. With its dedicated and autonomous leadership team, it will focus on transforming these three brands into unique ecosystems.”
Martin Lau, President of Tencent, echoed Guillemot’s sentiments:
“We are excited to extend our longstanding partnership with Ubisoft through this investment, which reflects our continued confidence in Ubisoft’s creative vision and exceptional talent to drive sustained success in the industry. We see the immense potential for these franchises to evolve into long-term evergreen game platforms and create engaging new experiences for gamers.”
A Strategic Shift Toward Franchise Ecosystems
This restructuring reflects a growing industry trend where leading publishers shift their focus from individual titles to long-term franchise ecosystems. Ubisoft’s move, bolstered by Tencent’s strategic support, suggests we may see expanded universes, transmedia projects, and potentially live-service evolutions for the Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six IPs.
The subsidiary's autonomy may also pave the way for more consistent releases and innovation, while Ubisoft focuses its remaining resources on developing new IPs and supporting its existing catalog outside the three major series.
What do you think about Ubisoft handing off its flagship franchises to a semi-independent subsidiary backed by Tencent? Could this lead to stronger games or dilute their original essence? Let us know in the comments.
