UbiSoft fell by 35%, marking the worst trading session in company history since 1996. The creator of the Assassin’s Creed series announced a massive re-organization which included the removal of 6 titles and the shutdown of several development studios. It also trimmed its net bookings forecast for 2026 and withdrew its guidance for the 2026/27 fiscal year.
Restructuring Hits Hard
To curb shrinking profits, the Paris based company re-coded itself into 5 creative units by genre thus cutting costs of operation and restoring its focus.
chief executive Yves Guillemot said in a statement, calling the reorganization a “radical move” for the group.
Each one is built around a clear genre and brand focus, with full responsibility and financial ownership, led by dedicated leadership teams.
Ubisoft has confirmed that the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake has been formally canceled. The company’s “major organizational, operational and portfolio reset” resulted in job losses.
The company closed its Halifax and Stockholm plants completely, and introduced financial cuts in Abu Dhabi, Helsinki and Maro (Malmoe), cutting short cumulative fiscal distress that is showing up in a drop in net bookings of the year 2018 i.e., 11 billion euros to less than 1 billion euros.
Financial Strain Deepens
Based on the rising debt burdens, the company has reduced its 2026 net bookings projections and has not given guidance on 2026-27. The price of the shares lowered by 33 % at the beginning of the shooting. This left the market capitalization to around 616 million Euros ($720 million).
Tough Road Ahead
The proposed cost-reduction plans will aim at easing the operation costs of the year ahead.
However, the continuity of negative cash flow and the close maturity of the debt problems presupposes that the viability of the company depends on the performance of flagship properties, including Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry. Shareholders are faced with an increased volatility in the markets; the question arises whether this rinse out will either lead to an upturn or will they experience a further decline in the gaming industry.