Ubisoft's Earnings Delay: What the hell happened?

Ubisoft's Black Friday Freebie: Desperation or Genius? (Spoiler: It's Probably Desperation)

So, Ubisoft's giving away Immortals Fenyx Rising for free. Okay. On the surface, it's a Black Friday "deal," right? A way to celebrate five years of Ubisoft Connect. But let's be real, folks. Let's really look at what's going on here.

The Free Game Gambit: A Sign of the Times?

Five years of Ubisoft Connect... or five years of struggling to stay relevant in a market dominated by games-as-a-service behemoths and indie darlings? I'm leaning towards the latter. Giving away a game, even one that got decent (but not earth-shattering) reviews back in 2020, screams "we need bodies in the ecosystem." It's like a casino handing out free chips—they know you'll probably lose it all, but hey, at least you're in the building.

And speaking of reviews, Polygon's "can’t help from becoming a game that shoves you down a path" assessment? Ouch. That's not exactly a ringing endorsement. It's more like a polite way of saying, "it's kinda boring."

What does it say about a company's confidence when they have to practically bribe people to play their game? It’s one thing to have a sale, it's another to give the game away for free. Are they trying to get more people interested in the franchise? Are they trying to build up some good will? Or are they just trying to clear out digital inventory that ain't moving?

The Plot Thickens: Earnings Delay and Trading Freeze

Then comes the really juicy bit. Ubisoft delays its earnings report at the last minute and asks for a trading freeze? Come on! That's not a good look. It's like your doctor calling you an hour before your appointment to say they need to reschedule... indefinitely. You know something's up.

The official reason? "Legal regulations," according to some email the CFO sent out. Right. And I'm the Queen of England. I'm not buying it. What kind of "legal regulations" prevent you from telling your own employees what's going on? My gut tells me it's something to do with the Tencent deal, or maybe even worse financial news than they were expecting.

The timing is what gets me. "Black Friday deals ‘up to 90% off’ shortly after the delay was announced," the report says. Like they're trying to distract us with shiny objects while they sweep something unpleasant under the rug. Seriously, Ubisoft? Do you think we're all idiots? Offcourse, some people probably are fooled by this sleight of hand.

It's like watching a magician whose tricks are starting to fall apart. You can see the strings, the trapdoors, the whole illusion crumbling before your eyes.

The EA Comparison: A Glimpse into the Future?

And then there's the EA news: going private in a massive deal involving Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund. Is that the endgame for Ubisoft too? A desperate grab for cash from deep-pocketed investors who don't care about games, just profits? It wouldn’t surprise me.

Maybe I'm being too cynical. Maybe Ubisoft really is just a generous company spreading holiday cheer. But let's be real, folks: in this industry, there's no such thing as a free lunch. Or a free game, for that matter.

The Truth Hurts, Doesn't It?