Does the Ubisoft “exodus” spell doom for the company?
It’s not unusual for key names and figures to leave companies. Sometimes, it’s because of a difference in opinion. Others, it’s because the certain individual just wants to move on. Such departures can harm companies, but most tend to weather out the proverbial storm. The only problem with Ubisoft is that it’s not just fighting against a normal storm - what’s happening in the company is a good example of sh*t hitting the fan. In general, the entire world is undergoing a lot of turmoil right now. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of industries had to go through changes, most of which were negative. These compounds problems that already existed in some companies before the pandemic. In Ubisoft’s case, reports of misconduct scandals and mismanagement, alongside the company’s insistence on investing in cryptocurrency and NFTs, have resulted in scores of talented individuals leaving Ubisoft. According to a report from Axios, Ubisoft is bleeding talent at an unprecedented rate. The worst part is that the company is losing people that are in important positions. This might explain why Ubisoft’s recent games have seen a significant drop in quality as well as the company’s questionable decisions. Case in point, the indefinite cancelation of Ghost Recon Frontline just weeks after it was first announced to the public. Replacing senior talent can have a significant effect on the company. You can take a look at what’s happening to Overwatch 2 right now after Jeff Kaplan left earlier this year. On the flip side, this could have some benefits in the long run. For example, the infusion of new talent going forward could help reinvigorate some of Ubisoft’s stagnating franchises. The argument exists that only Assassin’s Creed is doing well, with Valhalla setting new record highs in terms of sales and even getting more content for 2022. Ultimately, all of this is conjecture. Ubisoft has yet to confirm nor deny these reports or allegations. But, if there’s a lot of internal turmoil going on, fans have every right to worry about their favorite Ubisoft games. In other Ubisoft news, the company just announced that a remake of the original Splinter Cell is in the works. Meanwhile, the next big update for The Division 2 is going to release in late 2022, the second such delay to the upcoming content.
