As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I’ve witnessed the ebb and flow of the gaming industry. Ubisoft’s recent announcements have left me both saddened and intrigued. The closure of XDefiant and its studios is a significant blow to the gaming community, but it’s not uncommon in this fast-paced world we live in.
As a devoted admirer, here’s my attempt at paraphrasing: After the shutdown of XDefiant and its associated studios, Yves Guillemet penned a heartfelt letter to Ubisoft colleagues regarding our company’s upcoming trajectory.
The internal memo reads,
“Hello everyone,
I haven’t had a chance to chat with you in a while, and I sincerely apologize for my absence. Given that the recent months have been tough and uncertain not just for Ubisoft but also for each one of you.
In simpler terms, Marie-Sophie’s declaration about ceasing XDefiant, shutting down our studios in San Francisco and Osaka, and winding down our operations in Sydney are tough choices we’ve been compelled to take.
As a dedicated gamer, I’d like to extend my respect and admiration to the tireless work of the XDefiant teams. They aimed high, setting out to outdo the top-tier shooters in the market. Regrettably, despite their relentless endeavors, they fell just short of that mark.
To those departing from Ubisoft, I extend my heartfelt appreciation for the accomplishments and valuable input you’ve provided. Rest assured, we are committed to offering you the utmost assistance as you navigate through this transitional period.
As a gamer, I decided to focus my resources and energy on games that promise better returns and fun, letting go of less promising options for now.
I understand that the announcements we’re making might cause concern, given the current situation, and that’s perfectly reasonable. Many industries are grappling with tough choices right now, but the impact is often significant. Luckily, our organization has the ability to minimize such impacts and focus on strategic restructurings. Our aim is to keep moving forward along this path, maintaining our philosophy. We’re committed to adapting our organization to market shifts, always thinking about the long-term future.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been going through the findings from the Ubisoft XP 2024 survey. A significant number of you took part: approximately 86% responded, and collectively, you voiced your expectations and apprehensions about Ubisoft’s future through over 55,000 thoughtful comments.
I truly appreciate your dedication, the insightful nature of your comments, and the wisdom demonstrated in your collective thinking. It’s truly remarkable. We feel motivated to address your criticisms seriously, meet your standards, and remain responsive to your requirements.
I want you to know that all my energy is focused on finding the means to guide Ubisoft through these turbulent times. I am working tirelessly with my team to identify the best solutions so we can maintain control of our destiny.
This business, which we’ve collectively nurtured into a brilliant treasure for 38 years, holds immense significance for me. It’s an integral aspect of my identity and deeply rooted within me.
I’m putting forth my best efforts to get us back on track, ensuring we maintain our status as a prominent figure within the gaming industry, renowned for our innovative and top-tier video games.
Over the next few days, certain individuals from Ubisoft’s Executive Committee may contact you. Cécile Russeil will communicate fresh strategies to tackle some of the concerns raised by Ubisoft XP. Marie-Sophie de Waubert will unveil measures aimed at reinstating a daily emphasis on creativity, streamlining excess procedures and maximizing time spent on our shared priority: creating exceptional games. Alain Corre will offer updates about the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, advancements in fortifying our gamer relationship, specifically concerning The Crew Motorfest and Star Wars Outlaws.
I truly appreciate your dedication and high-quality work on a daily basis. What makes Ubisoft exceptional is its team members, and that exceptionalism is embodied by you. Thank you.
Yves”
Yves received an email after Marie-Sophie de Waubert’s internal announcement, stating that XDefiant along with some of its studios would be shutting down. This closure will result in approximately 277 employees leaving, with around 143 people in San Francisco and 134 individuals in both Osaka and Sydney expected to depart.
You can read Marie-Sophie de Waubert’s internal memo below:
Marie-Sophie
Hey there, fellow gamers! I’m here today to bring some news straight from our team. After careful consideration and some tough calls, we’ve decided to halt the development process for XDefiant. We hope you understand that sometimes, decisions like this have to be made in the best interest of our games and our community. Thanks for your support, and let’s keep the gaming spirit alive!
Regrettably, despite an enthusiastic launch, dedicated team efforts, and a loyal fan community, we’ve struggled to consistently bring on and keep players necessary for success in the intensely competitive free-to-play FPS market. Consequently, the game is currently falling short of the performance targets needed for substantial future investment. We are sad to announce that we will be discontinuing the game.
Effectively, starting today, you won’t find any new downloads, player registrations, or purchases available. Despite this, Season 3 is scheduled to debut, and the servers will stay functional until June 3, 2025, as a token of gratitude for our dedicated development teams who worked on it, as well as for the active players of XDefiant.
Regrettably, the termination of XDefiant carries challenging implications for the project’s development teams. Although roughly half of the global XDefiant team will be reassigned within Ubisoft, this decision also necessitates the closure of our studios in San Francisco and Osaka, as well as a scaling back of operations in Sydney. This means that 143 staff members in San Francisco, 134 in Osaka, and a significant number in Sydney will be leaving Ubisoft. To those departing team members, I want to convey my heartfelt appreciation for your dedication and efforts. Please rest assured that we will provide assistance during this transition period.
Our focus continues to be on creating and enhancing Games-as-a-Service, a key aspect of our strategy, which has yielded successful outcomes such as Rainbow Six, The Crew, For Honor, and more. This market is highly competitive, but we’re using the insights gained from XDefiant to shape our future live games.
Worldwide, our commitment is to take the required actions to guide the company towards a trajectory of expansion, advancement, and originality, ensuring your success. This involves further developing our approach to Production and Business strategies (details coming soon), as well as implementing strategic restructuring when needed. I understand that this situation may raise questions and anticipations, and we will provide regular, transparent updates on our progress.
My sincere thanks for your continued dedication as we navigate these trying times together.
Marie-Sophie”
Feel free to reach out to me, whether you’re currently employed at Ubisoft or have worked there in the past, using the confidential and secure email address [email protected], as I delve deeper into addressing the company’s ongoing concerns.
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2024-12-04 14:18