Part 8/10:
In the context of the larger gaming industry, Ubisoft’s struggles are emblematic of a broader trend: AAA game development costs are astronomical, often surpassing Hollywood blockbusters. For example, the Joker 2 movie reportedly cost nearly half a billion dollars to develop but performed poorly, leading to refunds—an indicator of the risks involved in high-stakes big-budget projects.
Unlike Disney, which leverages theme parks and diversified revenue streams to subsidize risky projects, Ubisoft’s revenue model is more fragile, hinging heavily on successful game sales. As gamers grow more vocal in their rejection of politicized or "woke" messaging, and as they turn toward smaller indie titles and more genuine entertainment, large publishers face a paradigm shift.