The (Overdue) Collapse of Ubisoft

Ubisoft’s financial and strategic crisis

• Ubisoft has recorded hundreds of millions in losses for years, including an operating loss of ~1.3 billion in the past year (as claimed in the subtitles). Its stock has fallen sharply since 2018.
• The channel says shareholders have seen rapid value drops after announcements of restructuring and major cancellations. Ubisoft reportedly signaled more losses for multiple years, with no profit expected until 2028.
• It emphasizes Ubisoft is not yet bankrupt because it has over a billion in cash, but warns losses could quickly erase that runway.

“Fixes” proposed by leadership framed as anti-consumer

The video argues Ubisoft’s turnaround strategies—especially moves toward NFTs and tighter monetization—undermine consumers.

• NFTs are presented as a way to monetize Ubisoft’s IP.
• Plans are allegedly pushing consumers toward not owning games (a digital-only logic).
• It claims Ubisoft has used or pushed toward always-online DRM for single-player games to support the Ubisoft storefront and DLC sales.

DRM / always-online practices repeatedly backfire

A central theme is Ubisoft’s long use of server-dependent DRM even for games that are largely single-player. The video cites:

• 2010: Ubisoft required online connection for titles like Assassin’s Creed II and Silent Hunter 5, causing lockouts when servers went down.
• 2012 onward: The video claims Ubisoft removed the policy after backlash—then allegedly repeated similar practices later.
• 2024: The Crew server shutdown is presented as an example of paid games becoming unplayable overnight.
• 2026 (this month, per the video): Black Flag Remastered (Black Flag Resynced) reportedly launched with multiple layers of DRM. During launch weekend, Ubisoft Connect server crashes allegedly caused the game to shut down instead of falling back to offline mode.

Privacy / internet calls from fully offline games

The video describes a 2025 investigation following a European privacy complaint, alleging Ubisoft collected or contacted online services even when a game should be offline-only.

• It provides an example where Far Cry Primal allegedly could not launch without internet/Ubisoft account and contacted third parties dozens of times in minutes (including references to Google/AWS/DataDog).
• The presenter argues this isn’t “ownership checking,” but instead supports storefront connectivity and microtransaction ecosystems—effectively penalizing players who go offline.

Corporate culture scandals and alleged failure to hold leadership accountable

The video claims Ubisoft leadership has a long record of controversies:

• 2020: An investigation alleged a toxic internal culture (misogyny, homophobia, and other misconduct claims), leading to resignations of senior executives.
• 2025: It claims criminal convictions of three executives in French court for moral/sexual harassment, including fines and suspended sentences (with an absurdly specific anecdote used in subtitles).
• The argument is that although employees/executives faced penalties, CEO Yves Guillemot remained in charge.

Regulatory and political pressure claims

The video alleges questionable timing and political/regulatory entanglements:

• A supposed invitation-only meeting with EU officials shortly before the EU rejected a game preservation proposal backed by over a million people.
• A Singapore-related claim that government grants/subsidies went to Ubisoft. It argues Ubisoft’s local studio output (notably Skull and Bones) struggled commercially, and that a later local investigation into harassment/discrimination complaints reportedly closed without violations.

Layoffs, closures, and fragmentation of the company

The video connects mismanagement to workforce reductions:

• Mentions 1,200 jobs lost in a fiscal year (as stated).
• Claims Ubisoft employed ~20,700 people in 2022, dropping to ~16,600 by the time of reporting (about a 20% reduction over a few years).
• It also claims multiple studios were shut down or heavily reduced across several locations, with additional layoffs extending into 2026 (as referenced).

Corporate restructuring and franchise sell-offs

The video argues Ubisoft is effectively selling off or spinning out parts of the business:

• Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six are said to have been moved into a new subsidiary, Vantage Studios.
• It claims Tencent holds 26% of that subsidiary.
• The presenter argues this partitions high-value franchises for investors while the rest of Ubisoft becomes less valuable by comparison.
• It suggests Ubisoft could be broken apart and sold over time.

Conclusion / overall argument

The core conclusion is that Ubisoft’s problems aren’t isolated controversies or market forces, but a consistent pattern: prioritizing shareholders and monetization systems over consumer trust and employee welfare.

The video frames CEO Yves Guillemot as the persistent figure responsible for failing to stop (or learn from) repeated scandals, DRM hostility, and mismanagement—despite the idea that Ubisoft’s best-performing moments aren’t enough to reverse structural problems.

Presenters or contributors

• Yves Guillemot (CEO of Ubisoft; referenced throughout)
• The narrator/presenter (the channel-host persona “Monkey,” as referred to in the subtitles)
• Financial Bullshittery (program/segment name referenced)
• Steam community users (referenced as discussing DRM parallels)
• European privacy group / investigators (referenced)
• EU officials / EU regulators (referenced)
• French court / prosecutors (referenced)
• Local government in Singapore (referenced)
• Indie studios / “The Monkey Explains” team (referenced; specific studios not listed in the subtitles)