Is Ubisoft owned by EA?
Ubisoft is not owned by Electronic Arts (EA), as EA sold its remaining stake in Ubisoft in 2010, and the company is currently controlled by the Guillemot family and Tencent, which collectively own roughly 20% of Ubisoft shares. The Guillemot family and Tencent together hold about 25% of Ubisoft and 29.7% of its voting rights, making them the largest shareholders of the company.
Ubisoft and EA Relationship
The relationship between Ubisoft and EA has been significant in the past, with EA acquiring a 19.9% stake in Ubisoft in 2004, but later selling its remaining 14.8% stake in 2010. This transaction marked the end of EA’s ownership in Ubisoft, and since then, the company has operated independently.
FAQs
Q1: What company owns Ubisoft?
Ubisoft is owned by the Guillemot family and Tencent, which collectively own roughly 20% of Ubisoft shares, with the Guillemot family holding over 20% and Tencent roughly 4% of the voting rights.
Q2: Is Ubisoft bigger than EA?
Ubisoft’s brand is ranked #80 in the list of Global Top 100 Brands, as rated by customers of Ubisoft, while Electronic Arts (EA)‘s brand is ranked #- in the list of Global Top 1000 Brands, with a market cap of $41.98B.
Q3: Does EA own any companies?
Yes, EA has acquired several companies, including BioWare and Pandemic Studios, and has a total of 39 acquisitions, with 20 based in the U.S., five in the United Kingdom, six in Continental Europe, and eight elsewhere.
Q4: Who did EA buy out?
In 2021, EA acquired Glu Mobile and Codemasters, a leading producer of racing games, for a combined $3.2 billion.
Q5: Who owns the majority of EA?
The largest shareholders of EA include BlackRock Inc., Public Investment Fund, Vanguard Group Inc, State Street Corp, and Wellington Management Group Llp.
Q6: Why was EA considered the worst company?
EA was considered the worst company due to its reputation for acquiring development studios primarily for their intellectual property (IP) assets and then forcing changes on the studios’ work product, impacting the quality or direction of the games.
Q7: What companies did EA shut down?
EA has shut down several companies or studios, including DICE Canada, Origin Systems, EA Chicago (NuFX), and Pandemic Studios.
Q8: Is Star Wars owned by EA?
No, Star Wars is not owned by EA, but EA had an exclusive deal to produce Star Wars video games, which ended in 2023.
Q9: How many studios has EA shut down?
EA has shut down a total of 14 studios, including some that were acquired externally and others that were created and later shut down by the publisher.
Q10: Who owns most of Ubisoft?
The Guillemot family and Tencent together own about 25% of Ubisoft and 29.7% of its voting rights, making them the largest shareholders of the company.
Q11: Has anyone bought Ubisoft?
No, Ubisoft has not been bought by any company, although there were reports in 2022 that multiple companies were studying the company, and Tencent has invested €300 million into Guillemot Brothers Limited, the company that holds part of the Guillemots’ ownership of Ubisoft.
Q12: Why is Ubisoft stock falling?
Ubisoft’s stock is falling due to weaker-than-expected sales, with the company increasing its writedown estimate to 500 million euros and cutting its full-year revenue target, citing the deteriorating economy and lower spending on non-essential goods.
Q13: What is the Ubisoft controversy?
Ubisoft underwent an executive shakeup in 2020 following reports of sexual harassment and abuse, with numerous leaders stepping down, including former chief creative director Serge Hascoet.
Q14: Could Ubisoft be acquired?
Yes, it is possible that Ubisoft could be acquired, with Tencent displaying strong interest in the company’s portfolio and continuing its expansion overseas.
Q15: Will Amazon buy EA?
No, Amazon is not expected to make a bid for Electronic Arts (EA), according to sources, as the acquisition would not be financially viable for Amazon.