Ubisoft doubles down on open-world and live service as its two core growth verticals
Summary
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot confirmed the publisher's long-term strategy centers on two verticals: open-world action adventure and live service games
The statement came during a Q&A following Q3 FY2024-25 financial results, signaling strategic consolidation after a turbulent period
Near-term pipeline includes AC Shadows, Rainbow Six, Anno 117, and The Division: Resurgence mobile
"We have been investing significantly for a big pipeline of products for the coming years along our two verticals - open-world action adventure as well as 'Game as a Service'-native experiences. And that's what we want to deliver year after year."
01
Strategy locked - two verticals, no distractions
Ubisoft is officially narrowing focus to open-world action adventure and live service ("Game as a Service") experiences
This is a deliberate portfolio consolidation, cutting out mid-tier or experimental titles that don't fit either vertical
The strategy is framed as a multi-year commitment, not a short-term pivot
02
Live service performance validates the model
The Crew Motorfest has entered Year 2 of its content roadmap
Ubisoft reports it "continues to significantly outperform" The Crew 2 in both player retention and monetization
Rainbow Six Siege remains a key live service pillar, with "big plans across all platforms" confirmed for next year
03
AC Shadows carries near-term commercial weight
Assassin's Creed Shadows is the publisher's most immediate major release
Pre-orders are tracking in line with Assassin's Creed Odyssey - the franchise's second best-selling entry by unit sales
Guillemot described it as "a big launch in the very short term," signaling high internal confidence
04
Confirmed pipeline for FY2026 taking shape
Anno 117: Pax Romana is confirmed for the next fiscal year, extending the open-world/strategy catalogue
The Division: Resurgence is in development for mobile, expanding the live service vertical to new platforms
Full FY2026 detail is expected to be shared in May, with Guillemot noting a "strong platform for future years"
05
What comes next - execution over announcement
Ubisoft's near-term credibility rests heavily on AC Shadows delivering on its pre-order momentum
The Rainbow Six "milestone" in FY2026 will be a critical test of the live service vertical's growth capacity
Investors and partners should expect more pipeline clarity at the May update, focused on these two verticals exclusively
Explore more: our Insights Feed
Events
Companies
Games
Locations
—
COMPILED BY GAMES ATLAS EDITORIAL
RELATED ARTICLES
EXPLORE MORE
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!