What could Tencent Games’ massive investment in Ubisoft mean for mobile gamers

Remember the rumours last year about Tencent and Guillemot Family’s potential acquisition of Ubisoft? Well, it has come true with Tencent putting a massive €1.16 billion ($1.26 billion) for a minority stake into a new Ubisoft subsidiary, and the news just gets better.

This Ubisoft subsidiary will focus on some of its biggest franchises like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six. I think this deal could completely change how these games show up on mobile, and here are some of my thoughts on why I think so.

Ubisoft’s idea of multi-platform ecosystems

One of the biggest things I take from this deal is Ubisoft’s push for something beyond just standalone mobile games. Instead of simple ports or short-lived spin-offs, they’re looking at creating “evergreen, multi-platform game ecosystems“, as mentioned in their official announcement.

That’s a fancy way of saying they want to build games that last for years, where players keep coming back for updates and new content, so basically, live-service experiences. When I say live-service experiences, who does it better than Tencent Games at the moment?

Tencent Games’ prowess in live-service games

Tencent Games surely has experience in free-to-play and live-service games, but what makes it a huge deal is the success they have had developing and managing some of the biggest franchises we currently have, the examples being PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, and Pokémon Unite, to name a few.

To put it in a simple way, they know how to bring big franchises to mobile in a way that actually works. This makes me think that we’re going to see more ambitious Assassin’s Creed and, hopefully, Far Cry games built specifically for mobile, rather than just ports of console versions.

Yes, Ubisoft has already brought in The Division Resurgence and Rainbow Six Mobile, catering to the mobile audience, but I’m thinking of a more diverse experience. Gaming on mobile has brought in massive advancements, and it won’t be long before we see console compatibility in games.

Another reason why I mentioned the above two games is that they have yet to see a full release, even though they were announced more than three years ago. Another game that is stuck in the loop is Assassin’s Creed Jade, which we haven’t heard of since the delay last year.

Well, partnership with Tencent Games means you have a bigger team to work with, and hence, expect faster releases, which was also mentioned in the official announcement. Yes, the Assassin’s Creed title will be published under Level Infinite, but if folks from TiMi Studio could lend a hand with Ubisoft’s game development, we could have one fixed release every year.

I’m digging down on every detail I read from the official announcement, so if you read it, did you see something mentioned in the lines of “further increases in quality of narrative solo experiences“?

AAA-like mobile experiences on mobile are a dream

Okay, I’m not being hyped up (maybe I am), but are we seeing an AAA-like single-player experience on mobile, possibly Far Cry? But imagine the Far Cry franchise on mobile, it surely has immense potential even if that doesn’t come with a multiplayer battle. One can dream.

Another interesting thing I noticed is the mention of “introduce free-to-play touchpoints, and integrate more social features“. Ubisoft is focusing more on multiplayer and social experiences with this new subsidiary, and that surely is something to notice.

Again, Tencent is one of the best in the business when it comes to live-service games and online communities, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Ubisoft’s mobile games get deeper co-op, competitive modes, and even cross-platform play with PC and console. Connected experience sounds exciting.

Till now, whatever I’ve explained has been from the mobile gaming POV. So, if you love gaming on mobile, this could be huge. Having Ubisoft IPs in mobile experience, especially where we can have Far Cry as a single-player or maybe even as an open-world survival experience, is the stuff of dreams.

But there’s another side to this. With Tencent involved, monetization will play a big role. Expect free-to-play models, battle passes, and in-game purchases. If handled well, this could mean long-term updates and fresh content. But if done poorly, it might lead to pay-to-win mechanics, which we don’t want to see.

In conclusion, I think mobile players are going to benefit from bigger and better experiences. The only real question is whether Ubisoft and Tencent can find strategies that align with this new Tencent x Ubisoft subsidiary. If they get it right, we could be looking at some of the best mobile gaming experiences yet, and I hope that’s the case.

Read other related stories:

• Ubisoft’s Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is coming to mobile on April 14, 2025, pre-registrations now open
• Esports Vision for Rainbow Six Mobile Hinges on a Competitive-Ready Ecosystem
• Ubisoft’s fantasy football title, NFL Primetime Fantasy, announces Closed Beta Test for Android
• Ubisoft expects a strong FY25 with 5 titles including The Division Resurgence and Rainbow Six Mobile

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