One of the most poignant moments from E3’s conferences – aside from Shawn Layden’s impassioned and sincere speech regarding the tragedy in Orlando – was Ubisoft’s Yves Guillemot speaking out against the very real threat of a takeover by Vivendi.
“This year Ubisoft celebrates our 30-years birthday,” Guillemot said. “That means 30 years in the best industry in the world.”
“I love video games because the real innovation and magic comes when our teams and players are free to create. Free to innovate. Free to express themselves. Free to take risks and have fun,” he added. “That’s what got us here today, and that’s what will drive us for another thirty years and beyond.”
“When you are free, there is no failure,” Guillemot said. “There is only forward.”
His words, espousing creative freedom didn’t contain any direct references to the French conglomerate, but it’s obvious that he’s worried that the company’s strong-arming tactics could damage the culture of creative freedom that exist within Ubisoft.
Vivendi recently completed its hostile takeover of Gameloft, the mobile game company founded by the Guillemot family. For the last while, Vivendi has been steadily buying shares in Ubisoft, trying to get a seat on Ubisoft’s board, where it’ll have a modicum of creative control. What that means for you and me, is that Ubisoft would likely start pumping out even more “safe” sequels – which is precisely what happened to Activision when it was under Vivendi’s control
Activision has freed itself from Vivendi’s shackles, and has considerably lowered its output, no longer pumping out licensed tie-in games.
Last Updated: June 14, 2016
Pariah
June 14, 2016 at 08:34
Vivendi getting control would be really bad for everyone.
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 14, 2016 at 08:37
Yes.
RustedFaith
June 14, 2016 at 16:39
ROFL as appose to Bobby Kotick, the guy pushing out the same game every year running the quake 3 engine from 15 years ago? Yeh Activision is doing great!! ROFL!!!!! A beacon of innovation for the gaming industry they are.
It will be exactly the same at ubisoft, the problem is Yves Guillemot and the only thing that will change is he will have other evil corporate money hungry bastards to share his evil ideas with.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 14, 2016 at 08:38
“That means 30 years in the best industry in the world” – Well excuse me Ubisoft but you sure as hell didn’t help make it the best.
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 14, 2016 at 08:40
Sure they did, they’ve had some awesome games. They’ve also hopped on the milking bandwagon too though.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 14, 2016 at 08:44
Oh sure their games are awesome, after it’s been patched 20 times at least. I can never understand why it would be broken in the first place, they essentially reskin the same game over and over like Assassins Creed. If only they spent more time on fixing bugs than a MT store. Also Uplay/Uclub. Everyone despises it yet it’s still there
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 14, 2016 at 08:49
None of that crap is exclusive to Ubi. They’re far from perfect, but they’ve had a lot of good games over the years that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 14, 2016 at 08:52
No it’s not exclusive
Pariah
June 14, 2016 at 08:50
Bethesda are renowned for buggy games too. But people dote on Elder Scrolls like it’s the pinnacle of gaming. Every single one has been a buggy mess, often requiring fan-made patches to fix all the shit years down the line.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 14, 2016 at 08:51
This is true
Greylingad[He Charges!]
June 14, 2016 at 19:44
And this is why I am not a fallout or skyrim fan, those games are not worth paying 800 rands for…
Ir0nseraph
June 14, 2016 at 09:23
Ubi is bringing you a new south park game, and you know you liked the first one, and Far Cry games they have faults yes, but if Vivendi gets them we will be worse off.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 14, 2016 at 10:07
I agree that Vivendi is bad, but Ubi helped the industry get infested with DLC, day one patches and MT.
HvR
June 14, 2016 at 08:42
Congratulations Porra Rangers for having self control and not slap Yves silly.
The Order of the Banana
June 14, 2016 at 09:32
I’m surprised they didn’t bodyslam the snot out of him… 🙁
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
June 14, 2016 at 08:45
Vivendi is gaming-cancer
CrasH
June 14, 2016 at 09:05
There’s a very real threat that Ubisoft “ould” be taken over by Vivendi. Ubisoft doesnt want that to happen.
Could or would?
Geoffrey Tim
June 14, 2016 at 09:22
Thanks. Could.
The Order of the Banana
June 14, 2016 at 09:30
Death to Vivendi! This would be as bad as IGN taking over Kotaku – both are shit, and the resulting merger would create a shitstorm so powerful it could destroy the western world.
Kromas GG
June 14, 2016 at 10:15
Ubisoft needs to go before the inevitable release of Tom Clancy’s:Assassins Creed.
chimera_85
June 14, 2016 at 15:33
Take them over! They are fucking shyte