Star Wars Outlaws Performance Sees Ubisoft Stock Plummet

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Star Wars Outlaws Performance Sees Ubisoft Stock Plummet

Key Takeaways

  • Ubisoft’s stock is at a 20-year low.
  • The apparent flop of Outlaws means Ubisoft is wholly banking on Assassin’s Creed Shadows being a success.
  • Mixed reviews tell an uneven partial tale. A wholly objective take on the game is rare.

As a long-time fan of Ubisoft games, I’ve seen my fair share of hits and misses over the years. The latest rollercoaster ride is the release of Star Wars: Outlaws, which seems to have left Ubisoft’s stock prices tumbling faster than a TIE fighter in a dogfight.

Although Ubisoft generated approximately $349.38 million in the first quarter of 2024, their stock prices tumbled to a 20-year minimum after the launch of Star Wars: Outlaws

Despite currently being priced at $16.74, the stock had hit its lowest point at $16.42 earlier today, a price not seen since the release of Assassin’s Creed: Rogue in 2014

The primary, though not exclusive, reason for Ubisoft’s financial struggles can be attributed, without a doubt, to the rocky debut of Star Wars: Outlaws. Initially, analysts had predicted that the game would sell around 8 million copies, but they later revised their expectations down to 5 million

Nevertheless, difficulties arose even prior to the game’s release, as the unveiling trailer sparked concern among gamers about Ubisoft’s ability to deliver a quality product and prompted them to advise against placing pre-orders

The trailer for the story was particularly disappointing, as the French developers faced criticism for their questionable business practices involving “buying does not mean owning” and partnership with Disney. Additionally, the gameplay graphics being noticeably inferior to cinematics sparked a comparison with Watch Dogs, further exacerbating the negative sentiment

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but express my concerns about the current state of affairs at Ubisoft. The lackluster performance of Outlaws in XDefiant, which was supposed to be their Q1 lifeline, is disappointing as it struggles to maintain more than 20,000 concurrent cross-platform players. To make matters worse, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, a game that once held promise for the future, seems to be heading towards a Ubisoft vs Gamers standoff in 2024. The anticipation and excitement surrounding this title are being tested, and it’s uncertain whether they can overcome these challenges

It’s uncertain where Ubisoft is heading at the moment, given their cost-cutting measures, staff reductions, and typical game releases. If they don’t become profitable in the near or distant future, postponing returns for investors could have serious consequences

Ubisoft controversy aside, is the game, the product people actually bought, any good?

Should Outlaws Be Left in A Galaxy Far Far Away?

Star Wars Outlaws Performance Sees Ubisoft Stock Plummet

Looking up the Metacritic score wouldn’t answer this question in any meaningful manner.

Some enthusiastically declare, “If you’re a Star Wars devotee, this game is an instant choice. It immerses you in the Star Wars universe as if you were really there,” while others criticize, stating that Ubisoft continues to produce games with restricted features, rough edges, and underwhelming quality

Currently, it seems like each aspect of the game is a close call between endearing features or regrettable flaws. The user feedback is largely divided, with an equal number of negative and positive comments

The positive reviews praise the stealth sections, beautiful graphics, immersive Star Wars lore and vibes, combat, and story.

As usual, the mostly positive critic score has been labeled as “paid for” by many gamers.

Critics strongly criticized the negative aspects of the game, including compulsory stealth sections using outdated mechanics, graphics reminiscent of the PS4 era that deviated from Star Wars’ traditional aesthetic, unengaging combat, storyline, and main character. Players also reported issues with buggy collectibles, achievements, and quests even after updates were installed

In reality, the “culture war” that has surrounded the game ever since its announcement is likely to dilute the real score.

Some negative comments on the game are valid criticisms, but others express disappointment solely because the main character is female. Similarly, certain positive reviews provide no meaningful analysis beyond stating that the game is enjoyable

Ubisoft’s games tend to be either extremely successful like ‘Far Cry 4’, or less so such as ‘Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’. However, the opinions of critics, user reviews, stock market fluctuations, and rumors don’t necessarily reflect everyone’s experience. Gamers should still give these games a try and form their own opinions about what makes a game good or not

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2024-09-04 23:39