Ubisoft has unveiled its latest strategic move: Vantage Studios, a new subsidiary dedicated to nurturing its most valuable franchises. This “creative house,” initially announced in May, will oversee the future of legendary titles like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six. It will be jointly led by co-CEOs Christophe Derennes and Charlie Guillemot.
The Launch of Vantage Studios
In its official announcement, the French gaming giant clarified that Vantage Studios is set to spearhead the development and growth of these intellectual properties. Ubisoft emphasized that the new studio will leverage the company’s extensive experience and technical resources, all while empowering its developers with greater autonomy over the games they create.
The teams comprising Vantage Studios are drawn from various Ubisoft locations, including Montréal, Quebec, Sherbrooke, Saguenay, Barcelona, and Sofia, and are already deeply involved with the Rainbow Six, Assassin’s Creed, and Far Cry franchises. Ubisoft also revealed ambitions to establish additional “creative houses” in the future, aiming to consolidate and streamline the development processes for its diverse portfolio of titles.
Strategic Investment from Tencent
This new venture is significantly bolstered by a €1.16 billion (approximately Rs. 10,694 crore) investment from Chinese tech behemoth Tencent. The initial announcement for this subsidiary came on March 27, shortly after the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Tencent now holds roughly a 25 percent stake in Vantage Studios. Despite this substantial backing, Ubisoft retains exclusive control and full consolidation of the new unit.
The leadership of Vantage Studios was confirmed in July, with Christophe Derennes and Charlie Guillemot named as co-CEOs. Derennes, a co-founder of Ubisoft Montreal in 1997, previously served as Ubisoft’s managing director for North America. Guillemot, son of Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, brings experience from his previous role at Owlient, a mobile and web games developer owned by Ubisoft.
This strategic restructuring comes on the heels of a challenging 2024 for Ubisoft, which saw a 40 percent drop in its share price following a series of underperforming game releases. In response, the company has undertaken measures including closing studios, staff layoffs, and the cancellation of multiple projects. The formation of Vantage Studios is a clear effort to optimize development for its most financially vital franchises.
A related video offers further insights into this significant announcement.