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You’ve likely been hearing a lot about Ubisoft recently, and that’s not likely to change anytime soon. The company is currently facing significant internal turmoil, prompting an ongoing investigation.
Stock prices have dropped following the disappointing performance of Star Wars Outlaws and the delayed release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Adding to the tension, CEO Yves Guillemot has controversially blamed gamers for the poor sales of Star Wars Outlaws.
It was widely anticipated that Star Wars Outlaws would struggle in sales, despite its status as a major release. Ubisoft recently acknowledged that Star Wars Outlaws failed to meet sales expectations, creating further challenges for the company. Instead of accepting responsibility, Guillemot appeared to place the blame on the fans.
During a recent investor call, Guillemot suggested that delivering a game with solid quality is no longer enough, claiming that gamers now have extraordinarily high expectations that are difficult to meet.
"In today’s challenging market, delivering solid quality is no longer enough." –Yves Guillemot
This comment has been interpreted as a deflection, with Guillemot seemingly blaming the player base for the game’s failure. Even before the launch, Star Wars Outlaws faced criticism, leading many to predict its underwhelming sales.
In response to the struggles with Star Wars Outlaws, Ubisoft delayed Assassin’s Creed Shadows in an effort to refine the game further, hoping to meet the lofty expectations of today’s gaming community. Guillemot emphasized the importance of striving for excellence in all aspects of development. This suggests that improvements are being made for the upcoming Assassin’s Creed title, with Ubisoft working to avoid another misstep.
While Guillemot’s comments about unrealistic gamer expectations have sparked debate, there is some truth to the idea that today’s market demands more from developers than ever before, making it increasingly difficult to satisfy the audience.