Ubisoft: Vivendi’s share purchase is ‘unsolicited and unwelcome’

The CEO of Ubisoft has vowed that the company will remain independent.

Both Ubisoft and Gameloft were last week subject of investment by former Activision owner Vivendi, which now owns 6.6 per cent of the Assassin’s Creed publisher.

In an internal email obtained by Games Industry, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot described the share purchase as unsolicited and unwelcome” and stated that a Vivendi buyout would leave Ubisoft "managed by people who don’t understand our expertise and what it takes to succeed in this industry".

Added Guillemot: "Our intention is and has always been to remain independent, a value which, for 30 years, has allowed us to innovate, take risks, create beloved franchises for players around the world, and which has helped the company grow into the leader it is today.

"We’re going to fight to preserve our independence. We should not let this situation – nor any future actions by Vivendi or others – distract us from our goals. Our best defence is to stay focused on what we have always done best – deliver the most original and memorable gaming experiences."