Ubisoft has $1.2 billion to spend

President Yves Guillemot doesn't want to get left behind as more and more companies in the sector come together, looking to do some shopping.

After its Ubidays event in Paris, and strong financials, French publisher Ubisoft has decided to celebrate by flashing a little cash. Speaking to Les Echoes, [registration required] Ubisoft president Yves Guillemot said that the company had around €780 million to spend, or around $1.2 billion.

Guillemot believes that Ubisoft may look to grow the company through acquisitions to keep up with the recent merger of Activision and Blizzard, and Electronic Arts' intention to take over Take-Two. Guillemot said that despite the healthy outlook at present (quoting the company's projected turnover of €1 billion/$1.5 billion this year), it must not get complacent and let itself be overtaken by others.

Approximately 20 percent of Ubisoft is owned by megapublisher Electronic Arts, which bought the block of shares from investment firm Talpa Beheer BV in December 2004. Speaking of the fact that rival EA is the second largest shareholder in his company, Guillemot said, "As long as it does not intervene in the company, EA remains a shareholder."

However, it's unlikely that the company will be looking to go into a big acquisition deal similar to the Activision Blizzard union. According to reports, the French publisher is more likely to be snapping up independent developers. Ubisoft also signaled its desire to become "a major player" in both book publishing and film production through the purchase of the Tom Clancy brand in March.

Recently, it acquired Gameloft's development studio in Mumbai, India, and announced it would be setting up its 18th external studio in Singapore this summer.

Guillemot also talked a little about Ubisoft's plans to make animated movies. He said, "Our goal is to create a universe around each licence, with games and films, as well as books for each." From next year some of its game franchises will get a "mini series" created in the company's new CG studio.

70 Comments

  • mrkame16

    Posted Jun 4, 2008 5:11 am PT

    That would be something if they bought Take two from under EA, bet EA would get pissed.....be carefull what you wish for........................................

  • cooldude03

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 6:48 pm PT

    How about lowering the price of your games back to $50 for starters?

  • combatsoldier

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 2:22 pm PT

    assassins creed 2 OH YA BROTHER. THATS MONEY BABY PURE MONEY.

  • combatsoldier

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 2:21 pm PT

    ubi soft im still waiting for my check. ummmmmm no thats great they have an infinite world of possiblility. Now they should hire on Mr. ninja gaiden now that he is available.

  • Senor_Kami

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 1:03 pm PT

    LOL, this is like the 80s where everyone is trying to merge or takeover someone else just because some other company did it too. Ubisoft is doing great. Spend that $1.2B on making new ips or sequels to games that people want.

  • thenephariouson

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 10:56 am PT

    AgentA-Mi6, I agree.

    1-) Assasins Creed 2 Soon

    2-) Splinter Cell: Conviction for The 360

    3-) GRAW 3

    4-) Beyond Good & Evil 2

    5-) TC HAWX & EndWar
    etc, etc

    They should also give Team Ninja's Tomonobu Itagaki a job too! : )

  • combatsoldier

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 9:14 am PT

    WOW TELL YOU WHAT UBI YOU CAN GIVE ME SOME OF THAT EXTRA CASH LOL

  • -HCMF-

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 3:50 am PT

    Seriously I called dibs, you can't back down on that, there is a code - there are rules...

  • Ranteal

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 12:38 am PT

    Buy a better name for your company. Maybe "Ubi-Hard" or "Team Flavor Cream Ninja's". It might help.

  • yboucher

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 9:08 pm PT

    How about buying back Gameloft for starters ?

  • SaintRasmus

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 5:30 pm PT

    Make a better Assassins Creed next time, and then fix Splinter Cell: Conviction !!

  • Indulge

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 5:28 pm PT

    At AgentA-Mi6

    word

  • jay_rock_

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 4:32 pm PT

    See when you make good games good things will happen to you....

  • -HCMF-

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 4:15 pm PT

    DIBS!

  • clintbrew

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 4:09 pm PT

    they should buy Take2 right from under EA feet

  • Mikethechimp

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 3:26 pm PT

    A NEW RAYMAN

  • bioghost

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 3:16 pm PT

    i haven't finish yet assassin's creed because my PC is slow, but the ubi is releasing good games this year then i have now a reason to upgrade.

  • brosim1104

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 3:11 pm PT

    If someone has to publish a book with video game ( 's ) story, should be kojima. Iread tha when he was 16 he wrote a book of 400 pages and he wanted to be a director... he also had make about 4-5 movies with his friends.. only at 16!!!

  • AgentA-Mi6

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 3:06 pm PT

    I want 2 things From Ubisoft

    1-) Assasins Creed 2 Soon

    2-) Splinter Cell: Conviction for The Ps3

    Animated movies wth, I want games.

  • Egyptman786

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 3:06 pm PT

    i think the same sophospeare

  • sophospeare

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 2:18 pm PT

    I don't understand the need to buy up another company. They are few and far between now and the ones that are there don't want to merge or be bought so it would be extremely costly for Ubi to buy them. They should just invest the money in themselves and release new IPs while keeping the quality up. If they really want to get something with a name on it, just buy the rights to a couple of existing franchises.

  • xkojimax

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 2:12 pm PT

    GRAW3 where are you..............

    edit: and a new hitman ^_^

  • Viral-venom13

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 1:52 pm PT

    I guess by expanding business throughout the world, a company can really rise profit wise and i like the plan of what they plan on doing with the cash investments. I look forward to seeing a Far Cry, Splinter Cell or Prince of Persia series in CG style!

  • xmg0

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 1:51 pm PT

    ah ubisoft isnt to bad

  • TheVinster

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 1:49 pm PT

    As long as it wasn't EA.

  • coold_steam

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 1:45 pm PT

    i hope with all this money being spent we see good products

  • datniccah187

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 1:41 pm PT

    Ubisoft is doing big things as long as the keep up the good work they should always have a nice bankroll to work with.

  • vigoureuxEVIL5

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 1:02 pm PT

    EA would nver be able to buy ubisoft and if they try to interfere in any way ubi can just buy them out.why would the other 80% sell a company thats going to make $1.5 billion dollars?

  • drangel_jam

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 12:54 pm PT

    I hope Ubi-Soft keeps owing. And stay multiplatform.

  • ctg867

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 12:46 pm PT

    So far, they have Splinter Cell Conviction, Beyond Good & Evil 2, Shaun White Snowboarding, Far Cry 2, Prince of Persia Prodigy, EndWar, HAWX, Brothers in Arms Hell's Highway, and Rainbow Six Vegas 2 as the list of quality or assumed to be quality titles they've released or are going to release this year (and partially into next). I think, considering the fact they also have a huge casual and handheld division, that this is a pretty damn good lineup if I do say so myself. Just work on keeping the quality of these titles, and putting them on a minimum of a two year cycle, then everybody will be happy.

    The only major two titles they had last year that ended up being good were Assassin's Creed and GRAW 2. They had a pretty crappy line up last year, with Beowulf, America's Army, Blazing Angels 2, Heroes of Might and Magic, CSI, Driver: Parallel Lines, and Call of Juarez all ending up being awful titles. And ports of Rainbow Six Vegas, Prince of Persia: Two Thrones, Enchanted Arms, Splinter Cell Double Agent, and the original Blazing Angels didn't make the year any better.

    When you take into consideration last year, this year (and partially into next) is looking really, really great for Ubisoft. So really Ubi, you have to take that 20% back from EA, get your **** together, and keep pumping out quality games like these, going back into your catalog, and bringing out new IPs like Assassin's.

  • akiwak

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 12:41 pm PT

    I think that most of us know that EA is bigger than Ubi so the comments about buying are with SARCASM. Ubi has put out a lot of quality titles and we wouldn't mind them getting EA to do the same.

  • Xjner

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 12:38 pm PT

    EA is going to end up buying everything i mean really how many more companies do you need?

  • supa_badman

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 12:33 pm PT

    wow so if ea get ubi how many develepers have been bought?

  • VenomRitual

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 12:30 pm PT

    if EA takes over UBIsoft it'll be a sad day. =(

  • Proman84

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 12:21 pm PT

    Here's a brave idea: how about instead of buying studios you actually invest the money in the games? I know, strange concept but it may actually pay off!

  • Sins-of-Mosin

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 12:19 pm PT

    09231991 - In regards to the DS, there is a few good 3rd party games. Sadly your right about the Wii. Just ilke the Gamecube and the N64 before it.

  • Selfdestruct9

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 12:18 pm PT

    Wow i hate the future of gaming. All small dev teams : GONE!

  • CStheGreat

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 12:05 pm PT

    Everyone that's saying "Buy EA" has no idea what they are talking about.

    Unless you mean Buy, EA? EA would be buying Ubisoft, not the other way around. EA is much bigger than Ubisoft.

  • thenephariouson

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 11:59 am PT

    If i could only choose games by 2 Dev;s they would be Ubisoft & VALVe "Sorry EPIC" but in terms of quality games you cant touch them.

  • agni_1

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 11:56 am PT

    Buy take 2 before EA does...please you would be doing all of us a favor

  • chelosera91

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 11:52 am PT

    wow, I didn't know (insert name here)Z were selling good.

  • guertt

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 11:45 am PT

    Ubisoft montreal rocks!!!! Vivre le Québec!

  • Fanible

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 11:42 am PT

    Speaking of which, Blizzard definitely should build out with their own CG studio and make mini-series based off their games. I'd definitely pay for em. Blizzard's games' cinematic scenes are one of my favorite parts of their releases. I always greatly look forward to them.

  • Agent-CSim-47

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 11:31 am PT

    All of the games i own made by Ubisoft are superb, especially the Tom Clancy games, and 09231991 your first paragraph is the most true thing on here.

  • Gaara79

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 11:30 am PT

    Buy EA

  • Gogz_6

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 11:30 am PT

    Ubisoft is one of my favourite publishers because they turn out good games and dont just churn out crap. Although valves my favourite there ideas just beat everything

  • nazraq

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 11:29 am PT

    i'm glad to see ubisoft being proactive. i don't want them to be threatened by another company. they actually have great games developed by them. thats how they got so big over the past few years. i think it really started when splinter cell was first released. i've seen them grow fast since then.

  • thenephariouson

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 11:26 am PT

    Were is SC Conviction??

  • Great_Ragnarok

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 11:18 am PT

    hmm maybe they should get rid of the EA's 20% hold!

  • thenephariouson

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 11:13 am PT

    I honestly cant think of a bad game by Ubisoft. TC Franchise (R6, GRAW, SplinterCell and new stuff), Assasins Creed, PoP, Brothers in Arms HH, HAWX, EndWar, even Rayman (not my thing but original nonetheless), they make quality games, they are simply brilliant, they sit next to VALVe in my top 2 favorite Dev' slots : )

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