Assassin's Creed Sales Put Kibosh on Possible EA Takeover of Ubisoft?

[Dr.Finger]

Just last week we learned (http://evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41229) that Assassins Creed had so far sold 2.5 million units worldwide. Well today, according to the Financial Times (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/7d6deb8e-acd3-11dc-b51b-0000779fd2ac,Authorised=false.html?_i_location=htt p%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2F7d6deb8e-acd3-11dc-b51b-0000779fd2ac.html%3Fnclick_check%3D1&_i_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.next-gen.biz%2Findex.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26task% 3Dview%26id%3D8372%26Itemid%3D2&nclick_check=1), we learn that these impressive numbers just may be the thin green line holding back the Electronic Arts juggernaut.The timing could not be better. Ubisoft has long been regarded a target of Electronics Arts, the industry leader before Vivendi’s acquisition of Activision. The US group bought an unsolicited 19.6 per cent stake in Ubisoft three years ago and has never disguised its interest in taking over the French. Through a series of poison pills, Ubisoft has managed to dilute the American stake to 15.4 per cent, but the takeover risk has not subsided.

The success of Assassin’s Creed has helped Ubisoft increase its market value to €3bn ($4.3bn), making it all that more expensive as a target. Now this doesn't mean that a takeover was imminent, but the chances of it did increase with Vivendi's recent acquisition of Activision.

Found @ Next-Gen (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8372&Itemid=2).

[Grifter]

I would love it if Ubi ended up buying out EA creating a few really talented independent teams from the talent pool and absorb the rest of EA like they never existed only using the EA name for the sports titles.

[KingGorilla]

I really think that we are going to see EA taking over Ubisoft at some time in the coming years, probably the same way Vivendi "took over" Activision. They will have majority stock at some point. EA is really desperate for a new shooter franchise.

[bKangy]

If EA take Ubi though, how many big publishers are there actually left?

[digitalErich]

Another reason to like AC...even if does only keep the beast at bay a little longer.

[Ink Asylum]

Please, Ubi, keep it up! Don't let them get you!

[GigaFuzz]

If EA take Ubi though, how many big publishers are there actually left?

We'd have EAbisoft, Vivendivision, THQ, Take Two.... are Eidos big enough to pay attention to these days?

[Grey]

If EA take Ubi though, how many big publishers are there actually left?

from last years gamasutra article: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/1744/game_developers_top_20_.php

1. EA
2. Nintendo
3. Activision
4. Sony
5. Take 2
6. Microsoft
7. THQ
8. Ubisoft
9. Konami
10. Sega
11. Bandai Namco
12. Vivendi
13. Square Enix
14. Capcom
15. NCSoft
16. Eidos
17. LucasArts
18. Buena Vista Games
19. Atari
20. Midway

There sure were some major changes this year, but the list does still covering the biggest publishers.

[Metal Jesus]

This is another great example of why competition is good for the consumer. The idea being that fear of competition creates better games.

That's the theory anyway.

[KingGorilla]

If EA take Ubi though, how many big publishers are there actually left?

Who says that we need or want big publishers?

[Xerxes]

Gawd noooo. While Ubi shapes itself into EA it's still a better version of the people they are trying to clone. No merger.

[mkelehan]

The US group bought an unsolicited 19.6 per cent stake in Ubisoft three years ago and has never disguised its interest in taking over the French.

Oh my god, they're trying to take over the French! I knew EA was big, but this is going TOO FAR.

[Hellbug]

Who says that we need or want big publishers?

Most of us around here like new types of games. Big publishers can take the financial risks that small companies can't. So, yeah, I think we need them.

[Wslove]

I really think that we are going to see EA taking over Ubisoft at some time in the coming years, probably the same way Vivendi "took over" Activision. They will have majority stock at some point. EA is really desperate for a new shooter franchise.

Something about the assumption that it was Activision that actually took over Vivendi irks me. Maybe because it is dead wrong. Vivendi merged with Activision and came into it from the more powerful position. Vivendi Games may not be as top tier a publisher as Activision was but Vivendi group as a whole has more capital then Activision can dream of. You are talking about the company that handles water treatment for most of western europe. Own Canal +, French cell phone companies, Universal Music Group, and ass load of different diversified companies and rakes in more money as a whole in a quarter then Activision can muster in years.

So you are correct, Vivendi took over Activision. The quotes are where you messed up.

[Wslove]

And as much as I don't like EA I would like to see them take over Take Two. Namely to end any excusivity crap with the various Rockstar titles.

[torrefaction]

from last years gamasutra article: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/1744/game_developers_top_20_.php

1. EA
2. Nintendo
3. Activision
4. Sony
5. Take 2
6. Microsoft
7. THQ
8. Ubisoft
9. Konami
10. Sega
11. Bandai Namco
12. Vivendi
13. Square Enix
14. Capcom
15. NCSoft
16. Eidos
17. LucasArts
18. Buena Vista Games
19. Atari
20. Midway

There sure were some major changes this year, but the list does still covering the biggest publishers.

How is that even possible? Ubisoft isn't even on the list?

[silv]

Ubi is #8....

[Royal Fool]

EA isn't gonna buy Ubisoft. There's quite a difference between the two corporations, not the least of which are the cultural and linguistic barriers.

Ain't gonna happen, at least not anytime soon. End of story.

[digitalErich]

EA isn't gonna buy Ubisoft. There's quite a difference between the two corporations, not the least of which are the cultural and linguistic barriers.
The thousands of foreign acquisitions beg to differ with that argument. Language has never been a barrier for buyouts in the past.

[Johan]

I'm still waiting on MS to buy Capcom...

[Disgustipated]

I hope EA doesn't get Ubi. Ubi has some amazing franchises, and a couple of years ago they were my heroes. Rainbow Six, Splinter Cell, Beyond Good & Evil, Silent Hunter... great games.

[DubiousQuality]

How is Ubisoft really any different than EA at this point to begin with? Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six, PoP sequels adnaseum. AC is really the first original title they've done in a long time and really thats Prince of Persia in a different skin for the most part.

I really don't understand all the hate for EA, is it because the've got the most money of the "big publishers"? What do they do differently that get people so mad yet in the same breath speak so highly of Ubisoft or THQ etc? All these big publishers pretty much just churn out sequels on a regular basis as it is.

[KingGorilla]

Most of us around here like new types of games. Big publishers can take the financial risks that small companies can't. So, yeah, I think we need them.

But they don't.

How many Medal of Duty, Gears of Halo, same games do we keep getting from Ubisoft and EA?

The actual risks come from small or independent studios like Telltale, Valve, PopCap, GSC.

[Disgustipated]

But they don't.

How many Medal of Duty, Gears of Halo, same games do we keep getting from Ubisoft and EA?

The actual risks come from small or independent studios like Telltale, Valve, PopCap, GSC.

Indeed, risk is the key word here. How much of a risk does EA take when they put out a new IP? Not much, lemme tell ya. If it sells well, they can franchise it. IF not, they still made decent money and can write it off as a loss

Conversely, how much of a risk does a small studio take? This one title, if it doesn't float, could sink the whole damn ship.

[CES]

If you want an example of risk taking almost destroying a small games maker try Introversion Software. After their first game Uplink, they were laughing with all the money they had. Their second game, Darwinia nearly bankrupted the company. Valve (and Steam) were the only reason Introversion survived.

[KingGorilla]

I would like to think that Introversion's talent for making good games helped a tad.

But I do not know what it is, Uplink is so damn addicting, I once played it for 10 hours straight.

Not all publishers are averse to risk. THQ has taken some notable ones that have paid off. And ideally EA and Ubisoft would work in a manner similar to THQ, the safe licenses and franchises would go to funding some new and innovative ideas. Midway, and I really hope it pays off, struck gold on LOTRO. NC Soft has funded some really interesting MMOs. It is a shame that Auto Assault flopped.

[Dukefrukem]

from last years gamasutra article: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/1744/game_developers_top_20_.php

1. EA
2. Nintendo
3. Activision
4. Sony
5. Take 2
6. Microsoft
7. THQ
8. Ubisoft
9. Konami
10. Sega
11. Bandai Namco
12. Vivendi
13. Square Enix
14. Capcom
15. NCSoft
16. Eidos
17. LucasArts
18. Buena Vista Games
19. Atari
20. Midway

There sure were some major changes this year, but the list does still covering the biggest publishers.

I would hardly put Atari in that category... it was jut a few weeks ago where they almost posted bankruptcy.

[DubiousQuality]

I would hardly put Atari in that category... it was jut a few weeks ago where they almost posted bankruptcy.

Keep in mind that list is a year old but it's still pretty acurate. Infograms/Atari has been having money issues for a while now. Mostly because they went on a developer buying spree about 5 or 6 years back and none of those purchases really panned out for them when it came to the titles that were produced by those studios. Shiny being the big one that comes first to mind.

[Ancalagon]

I hope Ubi never caves into to EA pressure. We dont need more rubbish ports and sloppy sequels.

[KingGorilla]

I hope Ubi never caves into to EA pressure. We dont need more rubbish ports and sloppy sequels.

YEAH! Ubisoft is perfectly capable of that on their own.

[NationalKato]

Do you hear that, gamers? Help fight against the hungry juggernaut of EA - buy Assassin's Creed!

[torrefaction]

Ubi is #8....

I'm retarded.

[KSmitty]

I'm still waiting on MS to buy Capcom...Zing!

I am not going to defend Ubisoft the hero versus EA the evil mega-corp, Ubi has made their fare share of cash-ins. But honestly I just don't want EA to have any larger of a hand in the industry than it already does.

[rainbowblack]

I was debating which game would be my post-holiday purchase. Thanks to this article I'm going to go with AC