Ubisoft was founded in 1986 by the five Guillemot brothers in Brittany, France, and has grown into one of the largest independent game publishers in the world. The company operates studios in over 40 countries and employs roughly 19,000 people, making it one of the biggest employers in the gaming industry.
Assassin’s Creed is Ubisoft’s flagship franchise, with over 200 million copies sold since the original launched in 2007. The series has taken players from the Crusades to ancient Egypt, Viking England, and feudal Japan with the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Other major franchises include Far Cry, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege (which built one of the most dedicated competitive communities in gaming), Watch Dogs, and Just Dance.
Rainbow Six Siege deserves special mention. Launched in 2015 to lukewarm reviews, the game was rebuilt through consistent updates and grew into an esports staple with over 85 million players. It’s one of the best examples of a live-service game done right.
Ubisoft has faced challenges in recent years. Several high-profile releases underperformed, including Skull and Bones (which spent over a decade in development). The company has gone through rounds of layoffs and restructuring. There have also been reports of workplace misconduct that led to executive departures in 2020.
The Guillemot family has fought off multiple hostile takeover attempts, most notably from Vivendi, which accumulated a 27% stake before selling in 2018. Tencent acquired a 9.99% stake in 2022, and discussions about the company’s future ownership continue to surface.
