Support NeoGAF

[Draugoth]

TENCENT, GUILLEMOT FAMILY ARE SAID TO WEIGH BUYOUT OF UBISOFTUBISOFT JUMPS 10%, ENTERS TRADING HALT, AFTER BUYOUT REPORT

Tencent, Guillemot Family Are Said to Consider Buyout of Ubisoft

Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Ubisoft Entertainment SA’s founding Guillemot family are considering options including a potential buyout of the French video game developer after it lost more than half its market value this year, according to people familiar with the matter.

www.bloomberg.com

 

[Hookshot]

The Chinese will probably treat Japan with the same amount of respect so I don't see much change in the future.

 

[DeepEnigma]

 

[mayham2199]

Was just listening to a podcast where Colin suggested it might be time to buy the stock because of the potential of a buyout.

 

[Laptop1991]

Will that make their games any better, out of the frying pan into the fire.

 

[SEGAvangelist]

Ew. I like to see developers failing, but a Tencent takeover just turns the company into a propaganda tool.

 

[ChuckeRearmed]

Interesting. I wonder if they will lay off all those peacock activists

 

[adamsapple]

 

[Bitstream]

Tencent buyout means theyll tell SBI to fuck off and actually make decent looking chars. Also means 100% more spyware installed.

 

[Novaex]

I wouldn't mind. At least there is a chance Tencent will get rid of all the DEI activist pretending to be developers and force them to make games that sell.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

Ew. I like to see developers failing, but a Tencent takeover just turns the company into a propaganda tool.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

The Chinese will probably treat Japan with the same amount of respect so I don't see much change in the future.

The prestigious historian Li Fan has discovered evidence that Yasuke was actually Yan Tzu Ke, a brave Chinese warrior that became the best samurai in Japan.

 

[NuclearDiarrhea]

Ew. I like to see developers failing, but a Tencent takeover just turns the company into a propaganda tool.

The company is already a propaganda tool.

 

[wipeout364]

Ew. I like to see developers failing, but a Tencent takeover just turns the company into a propaganda tool.

That seems kind of an extreme take. There is some value in Ubisoft but there is a lot of garbage as well; too many employees, bankrupt creative teams and too corporate a culture.

I think it would be a difficult balance to get things turned around especially for a Chinese company dealing with all the different cultural nuances.

This is a very different situation from Riot which was a growing company at the peak of its abilities.

 

[Gonzito]

Its all bad news lately huh? I dont think this is gonna help the industry in any way

Goddamn

 

[pudel]

Why not...I know many western studios where Tencent is holding a substantial share or even the majority.....they all doing well (or even very well). Beside that they are already now the 2nd biggest shareholder at Ubi.

Just wondering if they would be able to turn the whole company mentality around.

 

[saintjules]

Any article that's NOT paywall?

 

[ManaByte]

There goes the Winnie the Pooh open world game they've been working on.

 

[mitch1971]

Tencent buyout means theyll tell SBI to fuck off and actually make decent looking chars. Also means 100% more spyware installed.

Looks like Zelda from Terrahawks in her youth.

 

[SEGAvangelist]

I don't see why Tencent means less DEI.

Companies putting agenda over quality should fail. It's a win.

 

[Kacho]

Gross

 

[Drunkensamurai]

How much yall think UBI is worth? I say 10 billion.

 

[NickFire]

Not a fan of consolidation in general. I also don't know how strong Ubi is financially right now. If they can't sustain themselves a sale might be necessary. Honestly have no idea.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

Must be Shawn Layden's suggestion (he's an advisor to Tencent)

I mean....ugh I guess go for it? Ubisoft are at a low point, they can't get any lower under Tencent I suppose. But I wouldn't expect a rejuvenation of creativity in that type of acquisition. Just expect doubling-down on AssCreed and the like.

This would make a funny situation for Microsoft tho, because now Tencent would have cloud streaming rights to their games across Europe .

How much yall think UBI is worth? I say 10 billion.

It's at $1.73 billion Euro ATM so...definitely not $10 billion American.

Try just under $2 billion dollars. It'd be a super-cheap acquisition for a company like Tencent.

 

[tusharngf]

Conspiracy theory -- Tencent invested in DEI groups (secret funding) >> DEI makes western publishers agree with their agenda >> Publisher makes a loss on their games due to agenda >> Publisher is in huge financial trouble >> Tencent buys the publisher >> Mission complete

 

[Moses85]

This wont make anything better..

From Trash Company to Trash Company

 

[Go_Ly_Dow]

Wonder how much they will pay? 5-10bil perhaps

 

[tmlDan]

all i hear when i see this is this:

 

[Xtib81]

At least that would greatly reduce the DEI crap ^^

 

[Holammer]

Someone ask if Vivendi is still interested.

 

[Ogbert]

Would be a real pity.

UBI have lost their way, but it was a distinct company with, on occasion, a unique European feel.

 

[Topher]

Hope the deal falls through and Ubisoft is forced to go private

 

[Roufianos]

Good. There's no way even Tencent can be worse than that useless cunt Yves.

 

[StereoVsn]

Ew. I like to see developers failing, but a Tencent takeover just turns the company into a propaganda tool.

Yep, it's not really a good thing for anyone.

 

[Kacho]

At least that would greatly reduce the DEI crap ^^

DEI crap is temporary. A product of the time.

Tencent ownership is permanent.

 

[Magic Carpet]

Negotiate 20 bucks a share!

 

[pudel]

Would be a real pity.

UBI have lost their way, but it was a distinct company with, on occasion, a unique European feel.

This doesnt have to change. All studios I know where they are in....you dont even realize they are in.

 

[hemo memo]

We will likely end up with five major gaming publishers in the future that will rule the entire industry.

 

[Buggy Loop]

 

[LectureMaster]

When Tencent buys Ubi:

$70 edition:

$120 edition:

 

[marcincz]

Next move of Tencent after buyout ubisoft? Own console. That would be interesting.

 

[MayauMiao]

Tencent "promotes" DEI in Ubisoft.
Ubisoft shares suffered because hiring idiots in the name of DEI.
Tencent buys more Ubisoft shares, takes control, kicks out DEI staffer.
Tencent will force Ubisoft to create games with hot waifus enough to trigger nuclear destruction among the snowflakes, will start to have gacha games based on Ubisoft IPs.

 

[Drunkensamurai]

Must be Shawn Layden's suggestion (he's an advisor to Tencent)

I mean....ugh I guess go for it? Ubisoft are at a low point, they can't get any lower under Tencent I suppose. But I wouldn't expect a rejuvenation of creativity in that type of acquisition. Just expect doubling-down on AssCreed and the like.

This would make a funny situation for Microsoft tho, because now Tencent would have cloud streaming rights to their games across Europe .



It's at $1.73 billion Euro ATM so...definitely not $10 billion American.

Try just under $2 billion dollars. It'd be a super-cheap acquisition for a company like Tencent.

Damn, I would think Ubi is more valued than Bethesda.

 

[nani17]

 

[Holammer]

Btw, it's not like ubisoft will sell to Tencent uncontested and that's that. There will be bidding and EU will likely not allow them to sell to Tencent without a legal fight.
Large actors like MS and even Apple have the funds to buy them, but there are others whom may express interest.

Remember the whole song and dance it took for MS to buy Activision-Blizzard? Selling Ubi to China would be that and more.

 

[Jaguar Victory]

Yeah, no thanks. Chinese aren't even allowed to import the latest GPUs because of security concerns but we'll let them buy whole companies...

 

[Draugoth]

Seems Ubisoft approached Tencent and not the other way around.

Doesn't seem Tencent is really interested in spending a couple billion bucks on Ubisoft.

 

[Xyphie]

Wonder how much they will pay? 5-10bil perhaps

Less. The company only has a €1.8 billion market cap (and this is after a 30% jump on this news).

 

[Heisenberg007]

It'll be good for Ubisoft.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

they are already in bed