Ubisoft responds to rumors about Tencent’s potential buyout

Star Wars Outlaws sold fewer copies than expected. | Image: Ubisoft

Ubisoft is addressing rumors that Tencent is exploring a buyout of the French game publisher — though it isn’t saying much right now. In a statement on Monday, Ubisoft said it “regularly reviews all its strategic options in the interest of its stakeholders and will inform the market if and when appropriate.”

The statement follows an earlier report from Bloomberg, which says the Chinese gaming giant Tencent and the Guillemot family, who founded Ubisoft, are looking into ways to “stabilize Ubisoft and bolster its value.” Ubisoft shares dived 19 percent last month following news that it’s delaying the launch of Assasins’s Creed Shadows and reported lower-than-expected Star Wars Outlaws sales.

One of the options Ubisoft is considering is taking the company private, according to Bloomberg. Tencent, which currently has about a 10 percent stake in Ubisoft, also owns 49.9 percent of Guillemot Brothers Ltd. Ubisoft says it’s currently focused on open word and live service games.

Over the past year, Ubisoft has undergone many changes. It laid off dozens of workers across its IT team and special effects studio last November and followed up with an overhaul of its subscription service in January of this year.