Ubisoft is currently exploring the creation of a new company aimed at attracting investors by focusing on selling major franchises like Assassin's Creed. According to Bloomberg, Ubisoft is in the process of negotiating with potential investors, including Tencent, and various international and French funds. The anticipated market value of this new entity is projected to surpass Ubisoft's current market capitalization of $1.8 billion. However, these plans are still in the discussion phase, and Ubisoft could potentially abandon this strategy. The success of the forthcoming release, Assassin's Creed Shadows, plays a pivotal role in these considerations, with Ubisoft reporting steady pre-order progress.
Amidst these developments, Ubisoft faces another controversy in Japan concerning Assassin's Creed Shadows. Takeshi Nagase, a member of the Kobe City Council and the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly, has publicly criticized the game for its handling of religious themes. Nagase finds it offensive that players can control the protagonist to attack monks and target temples. He specifically objects to the depiction of the renowned Engyō-ji temple in Himeji, where the character Yasuke is shown entering with dirty shoes and damaging a sacred mirror. This has sparked a significant backlash against Ubisoft's approach to cultural and religious sensitivities in the game.
