Ubisoft launches its new Tencent-backed subsidiary

Ubisoft has launched — and named — its Tencent-backed subsidiary. Vantage Studios is the first of the company’s “creative houses” under a previously-announced reorganization. The new studio will oversee the company’s tentpole franchises: Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry and Rainbow Six.

The news follows Ubisoft’s March announcement of a new subsidiary with a €1.16 billion ($1.36 billion) investment from Tencent. The Chinese company took a minority ownership stake in Vantage as part of the deal. In July, Ubisoft named the new subsidiary’s co-CEOs: Christophe Derennes and Charlie Guillemot.

“Our focus is on evolving Ubisoft’s operating model to bring more focus, more autonomy and more accountability to the teams so they can stay closely attuned to our players,” Guillemot said at the time. “Decision making will be quicker, and it will also be easier to pivot when we need to change course.”

Ubisoft’s announcement today reflected that language. The idea is to give its developers “a higher level of autonomy” at Vantage and future studios. It wants the new structure to enable “a shorter pathway between gathering and implementing player feedback.”

Vantage is the only creative house the parent company has announced. The company will set up future ones “under the banner of a shared DNA and development expertise.” However, it’s unclear what other creative houses will work on, with Vantage taking over Ubisoft’s bread-and-butter franchises.

Vantage’s team will be spread across Ubisoft’s offices in Montréal, Quebec City, Sherbrooke, Saguenay, Barcelona and Sofia. Multiple gaming publications, including GamesIndustry.biz, reported that the studio began operations today. Ubisoft is said to have chosen “Vantage Studios” based on a vote by its 2,300 employees. As for Tencent, it will reportedly act in an advisory role, with the co-CEOs having the final word.

Ubisoft was due for some big changes. The company has endured big-name flops, studio closures and layoffs. At least Assassin’s Creed: Shadows has done well.

Incidentally, Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry and Rainbow Six titles were among those added to Game Pass on Wednesday. Microsoft seems to have intended that announcement to soften the blow of the service’s 50 percent price hike. I’m not so sure it worked.