Ubisoft recently introduced Vantage Studios, a dedicated ‘creative house’ within the company tasked with overseeing the development and growth of its tentpole franchises: Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six.
This new subsidiary, initially announced earlier this year as part of a collaboration with Tencent, will be led by Charlie Guillemot, son of Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, alongside Christophe Derennes. Charlie Guillemot has openly addressed concerns about nepotism, expressing his commitment to focus on the work.
Ubisoft stated that Vantage Studios aims to drive the evolution of these iconic brands by leveraging the company’s extensive experience and technical resources. The initiative is designed to grant developers more direct control over the games they are creating.
The company emphasized that Vantage Studios represents a significant ‘first step’ in Ubisoft’s ongoing transformation. Future plans include the establishment of additional ‘creative houses’ to centralize brands and franchises under shared development expertise and a common vision.
What is the Role of Vantage Studios?
Vantage Studios, and any subsequent ‘creative houses,’ are primarily focused on fostering deeper connections between game developers and their player communities. This streamlined approach intends to boost developer autonomy and shorten the feedback loop between players and development teams, all while benefiting from Ubisoft’s established expertise, services, tools, and technology.
Teams under Vantage Studios are actively working on the Rainbow Six, Assassin’s Creed, and Far Cry series across various global locations, including Montréal, Quebec, Sherbrooke, Saguenay, Barcelona, and Sofia. Ubisoft has hinted at more announcements to come, encouraging fans to stay tuned.
Ubisoft’s Journey to This Point
This strategic move comes after Ubisoft faced considerable financial challenges, leading to extensive cost-cutting measures, including significant layoffs and studio closures. The company also saw the shutdown of its title XDefiant. During this period, Ubisoft was criticized by some for its management, with reports suggesting that major players like EA (now itself undergoing acquisition) and Microsoft had shown interest in acquiring parts or all of Ubisoft before Tencent’s offer materialized.
In March 2025, Ubisoft officially unveiled this new ‘dedicated subsidiary’ for Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six, supported by Tencent’s investment of over $1 billion for a stake. Ubisoft clarified that other segments of its business, including franchises like The Division and Ghost Recon, along with the development of new intellectual properties, will continue independently. Tencent’s involvement was the outcome of a ‘competitive process’ where Ubisoft explored various strategic options.