Ubisoft CEO Tells Staff "The Ball's In Your Court" On Company's Future, Skull And Bones "The Deck" Episode Tomorrow
There haven't been "direct" layoffs yet, but sources say they are low-key happening via other methods.
Yesterday we reported on Ubisoft's "emergency investors call" that saw the company announcing the cancellation of 3 unannounced games, the lowering of financial expectations and targets, and the 6th delay of the upcoming pirate game Skull and Bones.
All in all, not a great day for the company and one that saw the company's stock slide by about 10% ( to a 7-year low) in the 24 hours after the call.
While I speculated in that piece that we COULD potentially see layoffs in the company's future given how often "internal restructuring" was said on the call, Kotaku is reporting that this has already started, but in a "low-key," not technically layoffs way.
Three anonymous Ubisoft devs (current and former) allege that the company is already reducing staff by ways of not renewing contracts as they expire and by failing to backfill positions that have been vacated. The end result is the same: reduced staff and cost, additional work for remaining staff.
That remaining staff also received an email from Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot (also viewed by Kotaku) that told the team, "The ball is in your court to deliver this line-up on time and at the expected level of quality, and show everyone what we are capable of achieving.” Putting the future of the company squarely on the shoulders of its teams and it's limited upcoming titles, including their plans for the Assassin's Creed franchise.
“Today more than ever, I need your full energy and commitment to ensure we get back on the path to success,” Guillemot continued. “I am also asking that each of you be especially careful and strategic with your spending and initiatives, to ensure we’re being as efficient and lean as possible.”
No pressure.
On the MAYBE plus side, if you want to see some more Skull and Bones, the team did acknowledge the delay officially on their Twitter today, but also revealed that a new episode of "The Deck" will premier tomorrow, January 13th, to kick off the new year for eager fans.
Exciting times are on the horizon as we start the year with a fresh episode of The Deck 👀#SkullandBones
📅 13TH JAN 2023
🕘 9AM PT | 12PM ET | 6PM CET | 1AM SGT* (14TH JAN)
📺 https://t.co/ZMXmpzUtQZ pic.twitter.com/wsSDSwIuKc— Skull and Bones (@skullnbonesgame) January 11, 2023
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About the Author
Mike “Magicman” Byrne has been a part of the MMOBomb family for years and serves as the site’s current Editor-in-Chief. His love for MMOs and gaming in general has led him to covering games for numerous gaming websites including Gamebreaker TV and XIV Nation where he proudly displays his fanboy flag for FFXIV:ARR.
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