Ubisoft is one of the best major publishers in the industry- a major publisher of AAA games that tries to create new IP, rework existing ones, one that is open to new experiences, to supporting all systems, to gambling on new technology, to paying heed to fan feedback. Which is why the threat of the Vivendi buyout has had so many Ubisoft fans nervous- Vivendi is a massive conglomerate, and Ubisoft is unlikely to be the same, were it to be absorbed by it.
To fend off Vivendi, which now has the largest individual stake in the company, the Guillemot family, which founded Ubisoft to begin with, has increased its stake and holding in the company, according to a report by Reuters. A filing from the AMF stock market regulator reveals that the Guillemot family now holds 13.6 percent of Ubisoft’s share capital, and 20.02 percent of the company’s voting rights.
Will this be enough to hold Vivendi off? We don’t know. But we can only hope that the company is able to retain its independence. The industry needs Ubisoft to continue being Ubisoft.