THE UBISOFT SOAP OPERA CONTINUES: TENCENT BUYOUT ON HOLD BECAUSE THE GUILLEMOTS JUST CAN'T LET GO
Ever wondered what happens when an unstoppable Chinese tech giant meets an immovable French gaming dynasty? Well, according to a fresh report from Insider Gaming, we're watching that exact corporate telenovela unfold with Ubisoft and Tencent's stalled buyout talks.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
FAMILY MATTERS
The Guillemot brothers, apparently channeling their inner helicopter parents, just can't seem to let their baby go without keeping the keys to the kingdom. Despite Ubisoft's stock doing its best impression of a skydiver without a parachute (down 85% from its peak, ouch), the family's still insisting on maintaining control even if Tencent swoops in to save the day. It's like trying to sell your house but demanding to keep living in it - bold strategy, Cotton.
THE WAITING GAME
Both sides are playing corporate chess right now. Tencent's strategy? Keep quietly gobbling up shares like they're at an all-you-can-buy buffet. Meanwhile, the Guillemots are betting everything on Assassin's Creed Shadows' February launch being their golden ticket to better negotiating power. It's basically the most expensive game of chicken ever played.
IF YOU LOVE SOMETHING, SET IT FREE (OR DON'T)
The whole situation reads like a masterclass in "how to complicate a simple business transaction." Ubisoft's bleeding money faster than a wounded bank account, with projects like XDefiant hemorrhaging millions and mysterious "Project U" apparently burning through cash like it's going out of style. Yet somehow, the Guillemots are still playing hard to get.
THE PLOT THICKENS
Sources suggest 2025 might be the year Ubisoft finally goes private, one way or another. But at this rate, it's starting to feel like we might get another Beyond Good & Evil game before these negotiations wrap up.
Remember folks, in the world of corporate gaming, nothing's ever as simple as pressing "Start to Continue." We'll keep you updated on this corporate cage match as it develops.