Ubisoft, the company behind big games like Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry, is going all in on open-world action games and live-service experiences.
CEO Yves Guillemot talked about this plan in a recent financial call, and the big upcoming releases like Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Star Wars Outlaws show exactly where they’re headed.
Let’s get into how Ubisoft is changing things up.
Ubisoft’s Strategic Focus on Open-World and Live-Service Games
Ubisoft is going all in on open-world action-adventure games. The company wants to keep dropping these big, immersive titles regularly in the coming years.
CEO Yves Guillemot made it clear during a financial call that this is their main focus. And it makes sense—players love open-world games! Just look at hits like GTA V and Minecraft, which have kept gamers hooked for years.
The open-world game market was worth $25 billion in 2023 and could shoot up to $56 billion by 2030. With so many people craving these huge, interactive worlds, Ubisoft is betting big on this trend to stay on top.
Furthermore, Ubisoft has nailed the live-service game with hits like Rainbow Six Siege. It didn’t start off huge when it launched in 2015, but thanks to regular updates and strong community support, it blew up, hitting over 70 million players by 2020.
Now, Ubisoft wants to keep that momentum going. They’re working on new live-service games like The Crew Motorfest, designed to keep players hooked with fresh content, exciting experiences, and a steady flow of updates.
Current Challenges and Market Performance
Ubisoft had a rough third quarter, with net bookings dropping 52% compared to last year, landing at €301.8 million. This was pretty much in line with what they expected, around €300 million. This is because the holiday sales weren’t great, especially for Star Wars Outlaws, and no new games were launched during that time.
Even with this setback, Ubisoft still believes they can hit their full-year goal of €1.9 billion in net bookings and breaking even on non-IFRS operating income.
They’re counting on a strong fourth quarter, with Assassin’s Creed Shadows coming out on March 20, 2025, to turn things around.
You’ll play as two characters—Fujibayashi Naoe, a skilled shinobi, and Yasuke, a powerful African samurai based on a real historical figure. The game looks like a fresh take on the series with an awesome setting and new heroes.
There’s also Anno 117: Pax Romana, a city-building game set in Ancient Rome, coming later in the year. For mobile gamers, The Division: Resurgence arrives in April, bringing tactical action to iOS and Android.
Overall, Ubisoft is going all in on open-world and live-service games, and these releases show just how much they’re focusing on big, immersive experiences.