The video game industry is a constantly evolving entity, and there are always events that grab attention. Of course, major companies cannot remain isolated, so to a greater or lesser extent, they must consider the environment and analyze the actions of other companies. So, is Ubisoft concerned about what lies ahead?
"It wont have a big impact," Ubisoft comments on Xbox rumors
Undoubtedly, Xbox is the protagonist this week. For the past couple of days, rumors have emerged indicating that the company will embrace the multiplatform model, bringing its major exclusives to PlayStation and Nintendo. Pending more information, Phil Spencer promised to share more details soon.
Abandoning exclusivity is a significant change that could shift the paradigm of the gaming industry, so its not surprising that fans and developers are eagerly awaiting more details. With that said, will it have a big impact on the companies?
In the latest quarterly results conference with investors, Yves Guillemot, CEO of Ubisoft, spoke about the companys current state and its future. At one point, he was asked about the Xbox rumors and whether he believes that the hypothetical shift to the multiplatform model will have a significant impact on the industry.
"Regarding Microsofts rumors, we cannot comment. They will decide what is best for them. What needs to be considered is that, anyway, Activision Blizzard used to be multiplatform, so it would have an impact, but not a significant impact on the industry," commented the executive.
Ubisoft believes GTA 6 will benefit its games
Likewise, Yves Guillemot was questioned about the imminent release of Grand Theft Auto 6. Will it affect the commercial performance of Ubisofts games? The executive believes that, in fact, it will be the opposite.
Its no secret that GTA 6 will be one of the most anticipated releases in recent years. Because its such a highly anticipated project, its easy to assume that companies fear it will steal all the attention and consequently impact the performance of their games.
However, Yves Guillemot believes that the release of the open-world game from Rockstar Games will bring more people back to the gaming industry, ultimately benefiting Ubisoft.
"What we can say about GTA 6 is what weve seen in the past: whenever theres a big release like GTA, more and more people come back to the industry, and that helps other games sell as well. Of course, we look at it, and we really organize things around the launch of that game, which we dont know exactly when will happen," said the executive.
He highlights that Ubisoft recorded solid profits when Grand Theft Auto V was released in 2013.
Finally, the companys head believes that the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 will be closer to fiscal year 2026 (April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026) than fiscal year 2024 (April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025).
