Speculation of an acquisition by publishing giant Electronic Arts has refused to go away, after the company bought a 20 per cent stake in Ubisoft two years ago.
"We have the capability, the management, the brands, the studios and the energy to go on alone," said Alain Corre, executive director for Ubisoft EMEA.
"I think it would be dangerous for a company like Ubisoft to get together too much with a company like EA, because it could kill creativity - and in our industry, I think that's key."
"The plan is for us to go on developing the business ourselves. What we have proven over the last 18, 20 months after EA got into our capital is that being independent, keeping our own strategy, was very lucrative and was the right thing to do," he added.
The new unit comprises over 500 developers representing the entire World of Warcraft development team.
I used to be anti-union, it kills productivity, investment and turns product mediocre. Their games suck anyways though so what was lost? Might as well get their people paid until they are dissolved.
Unions are necessary regardless of how you feel. You know how fked the working class would be without them. As if we're not already.
No they aren’t, regardless of how you feel. Unions make zero sense for skill based labor. They are for people who press a button every 10 seconds on an assembly line. “working class” is a made up term. I don’t care about corporations or developers, I just want good games lol. Killing your incentives to appease the lowest common denominator doesn’t lead to great games imo
I wasn’t trying to be offensive if I came off that way. The Union is an old mentality and I can see their usefulness but also the danger. We’re in the age of AI and robots and skill based labor. Unions can be dangerous these days. You could replace your entire workforce in one move. Checkmate. Look to the kiosk replacing workers in the 20 dollar minimum wage era.
Well run businesses don’t need unions. If you need a Union that business won’t survive anyway. Unless it’s propped up by the government with corporate welfare (which is the real issue). If you’re not going to spend some on your workers (Amazon, Google) then your welfare is cut off. No tax breaks. All you put together don’t match their wealth and resources, the union is a traditional memory at this point and counterproductive with this new enemy we face. They need a flying elbow from the top ropes. And by “working class is a made up term” I just mean we’re not a class system and even CEO Bobby Kotick puts in a days work lol. Or did.. It’s just a vague term that doesn’t mean anything no offense lol. People say “middle class” but that can change quick right? Up or down. That’s not a “class system”.
Modders have cooked up something pretty special – a Wii console which is small enough to fit on your keys. A wee Wii.
Another studio has held layoffs, this time its Humble Games letting go of its entire QA team according to social media posts.
They will rehire cheaper labor during the restructuring. The stupid thing is that they are struggling and the first thing they do is lower the quality.
Stay the heck away from UBISOFT!!.. EA is big enough and we dont need Sam Fisher in the game!!!!!
Please! put up a fight.
they would kill creativity. they kill everything they do.
EA is the worst thing that happened to all gamers. there use to be a time they strived for profection.
if they take ubi over...i hope they all quit and start a new company.
they would lose all of the IP's though.
i wish M$ would take them in. they leave their guys alone as is. they know not to mess with a good thing...Lionhead is a perfect example.
notice this statment in the article...
"The idea for us is to tap into the genres we're not in. We did that last summer with the acquisition of Driver and the Reflections studio, so we're now into racing more. We want to go down that route and get the skills to develop sports and RPG games in the future," revealed Corre."
Racing, RPG's, and the big one SPORTS. That is a threat to EA (as they see it)...another sports contender. EA will do everything to stop that...look at what they have done to try and stop 2k (take2).
damn EA, just except some friendly competion. I know, i know...that would make you have to work harder. Cry me a freakn river EA. Lazy a$$'s.
ok i feel better.
This will kill all the Ubisoft games! Ubisoft won't let it happen! They will run to Microsoft before it does!
If MS bought Ubisoft I would be incredibly happy. Because their games would be exclusive making them better games for the system.
It's unlikely but if they did it would really boost their sales having that kind of talent onboard.