Ubisoft is a Confounding Company

Quick Overview

The hosts conclude that Ubisoft will remain a confounding video game company one year from now, predicting continued layoffs, internal division splitting focus away from the most profitable franchises like Assassin's Creed, and a general state of instability despite some successful experimental games.

Key Points: The prediction for Ubisoft one year out is that the company will continue layoffs and internal division, pulling resources away from profitable franchises. The speaker notes that Ubisoft games like Assassin's Creed are blockbusters, but the company culture seems to lead to unsustainable practices like constant layoffs. Successful smaller experimental games like Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and Avatar are cited as positive exceptions to the general trend of poor internal decision-making. The speaker mentions that Ubisoft's division structure means only the most profitable IPs (like Assassin's Creed) receive full backing, while others struggle. The speaker cites a GameSpot Insider documentary highlighting the internal struggles and the company's perceived failure to learn from past mistakes. Examples of successful, well-regarded games that emerged despite the corporate environment include Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and Avatar (03:23).

Context: The video features two hosts, Lucy Indovina and Kurt James, discussing their predictions for the state of Ubisoft one year into the future during their podcast segment, 'Kurt & Lucy Gotcha Covered.' The discussion revolves around the company's persistent issues with layoffs, internal strategy, and the contrast between their massive blockbuster successes and smaller, well-received experimental titles.

Detailed Analysis

The hosts predict that in one year, Ubisoft will still be a confounding company, characterized by ongoing layoffs and internal restructuring that splits focus. Lucy argues that the company consistently makes poor choices, evidenced by the fact that they seem to be splitting the company into divisions, funneling resources only to the most profitable IPs (like Assassin's Creed), while other projects float without direction. Kurt agrees, pointing out that despite massive successes like the Assassin's Creed franchise pulling in millions, the company culture remains unstable, leading to layoffs and a focus on chasing trends rather than stable development. They contrast this trend with successful smaller titles like Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and Avatar, which defied the trend of large, bloated releases and were critically acclaimed. Kurt references a GameSpot Insider documentary that detailed the internal workings, suggesting the studio culture is prone to repeating mistakes, concluding that Ubisoft will likely continue its cycle of cuts and unsustainable growth patterns.