Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Some investors of French publisher Ubisoft openly criticize its management and are unhappy with the company’s strategic direction. The anticipated hit Star Wars Outlaws is not selling as well as expected, and they are calling for the head of CEO Yves Guillemot, whose family founded the company nearly 40 years ago. The shareholders of Ubisoft have seen their shares halve in value over the last year, with stock prices hitting a ten-year low and no signs of improvement.
Struggling Sales and Discontent
The eagerly awaited Star Wars Outlaws isn’t meeting sales expectations, while Assassin’s Creed: Shadows generates negative buzz. Aside from these titles, no other significant releases have hit the market this year. Slovakian investor Juraj Krúpa has grown frustrated with the company’s direction and has called for leadership changes in an open letter.
Guillemot Family Holds Tight Control
Ubisoft is still primarily controlled by the Guillemot family, who founded the company in the mid-1980s. However, Krúpa argues they are out of touch with the current gaming landscape and should step down, allowing fresh leadership to take over. He has openly criticized the management for focusing on short-term gains while neglecting long-term success and innovation.
A Call for Change and a Path Forward
Krúpa sees a potential solution in reviving neglected franchises like Rayman, Splinter Cell, For Honor, and Watch Dogs. With a history of success in the gaming industry, including selling Activision-Blizzard to Microsoft, Krúpa is rallying other minority shareholders to his side to oust Guillemot and eventually sell Ubisoft to a new owner. While the Guillemots have weathered crises in the past, this challenge may prove different.
