一連のリリースの不振と挫折を受けて、ユービーアイソフトは少数投資家である Aj Investment から経営陣の見直しと人員削減を求める圧力に直面している。
Aj Investment がユービーアイソフトの再編を求める
これまでの人員削減は不十分、投資家の主張
Ubisoft の大株主である Aj Investment は、CEO の Yves Guillemot と Tencent を含む同社取締役会に対し、同社を非公開化し、新たな経営陣を設置するよう公に要請した。 この投資家は公開書簡の中で、ユービーアイソフトの現在の業績と戦略的方向性に深い不満を表明した。
書簡では、レインボーシックス シージやザ・ディビジョンなどの主要タイトルの発売が2025年3月下旬まで延期されることに加え、2024年第2四半期の収益予測の引き下げと全体的な業績不振が大きな懸念事項として挙げられている。 Aj Investment は特に、Guillemot を CEO に置き換えることを提案し、俊敏性と競争力を向上させるためにコストとスタジオ構造を最適化する新しいリーダーを提唱しました。
この圧力はユービーアイソフトの株価に影響を与えており、ユービーアイソフトはこの書簡に対してまだ正式に返答していないというThe Wall Street Journal.によると、株価は過去1年間で50%以上下落したと伝えられている。
Aj Investmentは、ユービーアイソフトの評価額の低さは経営不行き届きが原因であり、株主はギルモ家とテンセントによって不利益を被っていると主張している。 この投資家は、同社が長期的な戦略計画や卓越したゲーム体験の提供ではなく、短期的な利益に焦点を当てていることを批判している。
Aj Investment の Juraj Krupa 氏はさらに、
のキャンセル、スカル アンド ボーンズ および プリンス オブ ペルシャ: ロスト クラウン の圧倒的な評判を批判しました。 レイマン、スプリンターなどの人気シリーズが十分に活用されていないことセル、フォーオナー、ウォッチドッグス。 スター・ウォーズ・アウトローズは業績を押し上げると期待されていたが、売り上げが振るわなかったと伝えられており、そのことが同社の株価を2015年以来の安値に押しつけた。
この書簡はまた、EA、Take-Two Interactive、Activision Blizzardなどの競合他社がより少ない従業員でより高い収益と収益性を達成していることを引用し、大幅な人員削減を示唆している。 Ubisoft の従業員 17,000 人は、EA の 11,000 人、Take-Two の 7,500 人、Activision Blizzard の 9,500 人とははっきりと対照的です。Krupaは、業務効率を改善するために積極的なコスト削減とスタッフの最適化を求めており、中核となるIP開発には重要ではないスタジオの売却を示唆している。 同氏は、ユービーアイソフトの30のスタジオは大きすぎる構造であり、不採算の可能性があると指摘している。 クルパ社は、これまでの一時解雇(従業員の約10%)を認めながらも、競争力を維持するにはさらなる措置が必要だと主張している。 同氏はまた、計画されたコスト削減が不十分であるとも述べています。
Company of Heroes has officially introduced an online, cross-platform multiplayer mode in its latest update, marking a major milestone for the acclaimed World War II real-time strategy franchise. This new feature allows players on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch to seamlessly join the same matches, fostering a more connected and inclusive multiplayer experience.
The cross-platform functionality was developed in collaboration with the game’s publisher, Relic Entertainment, and developer Sega, leveraging advanced matchmaking and anti-cheat systems to ensure fair and smooth gameplay across all supported platforms. Players can now team up or compete against friends regardless of their chosen console or PC, breaking down traditional platform barriers.
Key features of the new online multiplayer mode include:
True Cross-Platform Play: Join matches with players on any supported platform using a unified account system.
Dynamic Matchmaking: Intelligent pairing based on skill level, platform preference, and region.
Enhanced Anti-Cheat Measures: Built-in protections to maintain a fair and enjoyable experience.
Cross-Progression and Leaderboards: Track achievements and progress across devices.
Regular Content Updates: New maps, factions, and gameplay modes are being rolled out seasonally.
The addition of cross-platform multiplayer has been warmly received by the Company of Heroes community, with many praising the move for revitalizing the franchise and expanding its competitive scene. Relic has also confirmed plans for future support of VR integration and expanded esports initiatives.
Whether you’re commanding Allied forces on the Western Front or leading German panzers through the Eastern Campaign, the new online mode ensures that every battle is now more accessible—and more intense—than ever before.
Company of Heroes: Cross-Platform Multiplayer Mode is now live on all supported platforms.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza — that title sounds like a wild, genre-bending crossover that blends the gritty, emotional storytelling of the Like a Dragon series with the swashbuckling chaos of pirate adventure. While it’s not an official game as of now (as of 2024), let’s imagine what this fictional fusion might look like in full detail:
🎮 Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza
(An Imagined PlayStation 5 Exclusive)
Genre: Action-Adventure, RPG, Open World
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC (later)
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio (Sega)
Release Date: 2025 (Fictional)
🌟 The Premise:
After being betrayed and exiled from Kamurocho, Ichiban Kasuga—the heart of the Yakuza world—flees across the Pacific in a stolen cargo ship, only to crash on a mysterious island chain known as The Crimson Isles. There, he discovers a forgotten legend: a secret pirate clan, the Kurozame, who once served as the "spiritual guardians" of the Yakuza, protecting ancient codes of honor from foreign corruption.
But now, the Kurozame are hunted. Their leader, Captain Hekigan, has vanished. Their ships lie in ruins. And a sinister new power—the Black Galleon Syndicate—is enslaving islanders and siphoning the land's spiritual energy.
Ichiban, now a "pirate in spirit," must survive, fight, and reclaim his honor not with swords and fists alone—but with friendship, music, and the unbreakable will of a man who believes in second chances.
🔥 Key Features:
Dynamic Pirate Combat System:
Fight with a mix of traditional Like a Dragon brawler mechanics and nautical chaos—boarding enemy ships, swinging from rigging, using cannon fire, and even summoning sea monsters through ritual songs.
The "Soul of the Sea" Gauge:
A new meter that builds through storytelling, friendship, and musical performances. When full, Ichiban can unleash legendary "Spirit Raids"—epic, cinematic battles where he dances through waves and attacks like a storm.
The Crew System:
Recruit eccentric pirate crewmates with unique skills:
Kaito, a rogue samurai-turned-pirate who fights with dual katanas and a voice like a hurricane.
Miyako, a former geisha who uses fans to control wind and summon storms.
Captain Fudo, a grizzled veteran with a mechanical arm and a heart full of grudges.
Island Towns & Open World:
Explore lush jungle islands, underwater ruins, and floating bazaars. Every town has its own theme—hip-hop port cities, gothic pirate forts, and even a secret island where yakuza and pirates once held "brotherhood duels" in honor of peace.
Fishing, Cooking, and Music Minigames:
Yes, you can fish for mythical sea eels, cook seafood risotto on a beach, and perform live on the deck with a guitar made from a stolen violin.
The "Yakuza Code on the High Seas":
Moral choices affect your crew’s loyalty. Help a starving village? Gain honor. Betray a friend for treasure? Unlock dark "Pirate Ghost" forms.
🎵 Music & Tone:
The soundtrack blends traditional Japanese folk, pirate sea shanties, and jazzy saxophone riffs reminiscent of Yakuza 0.
Iconic theme: "The Wind That Carries the Name of a Man" — a haunting ballad sung by a mysterious woman who may be a spirit from Ichiban’s past.
🎮 Gameplay Moments:
Battle Scene: Ichiban fights a giant, cursed kraken made of yakuza swords and cursed pachinko machines, screaming, "I only fight for my friends!"
Emotional Climax: After losing his best crewmate, Ichiban sings a lullaby to a storm-ravaged village, calming the seas and awakening the island’s ancient guardian spirit—an enormous, glowing crane made of paper and light.
Final Boss: The Black Galleon’s leader isn’t a pirate at all—but a corrupted version of Daisuke Arakawa, a former yakuza councilman who believed honor was obsolete.
💬 Quote (Ichiban, in a pirate hat, grinning):
"I may not have a ship. I may not even know how to sail. But I’ve got heart, and a crew that’s more family than gold. And that… is the real treasure."
🚨 Why It Works:
Like a Dragon has always explored themes of redemption, loyalty, and found family. Pirates are the ultimate metaphor for outcasts and rebels—perfect for Ichiban’s journey.
The blend of Eastern honor and Western adventure creates a fresh, emotional, and wildly fun experience.
Fans of One Piece, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Yakuza would all feel at home.
🎮 Verdict (Fictional):
If Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza ever released, it would be a cultural phenomenon—more than a game, it’d be a legend in the making, with more heart than any ship ever built.
🏴☠️ “The sea doesn’t care about your past. But your crew does. And that’s enough.”
— Ichiban Kasuga, Captain of the Kurozame, 2025
Would you play it? 🏴☠️💥