Ubisoft CEO Reveals Disappointing Sales of Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR
During a financial Q&A session, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot addressed the company’s plans for VR development in light of recent hardware releases. Guillemot shared that Ubisoft does not intend to increase investment in VR games following the disappointing sales of its most recent VR endeavor, Assasin’s Creed Nexus VR. The company had hoped for higher sales and, as a result, will not be further investing in the VR market at this time.
Lackluster Performance of Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR Prompts Ubisoft’s Decision
Guillemot explained that while Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR did “ok” and continues to sell, the sales did not meet the company’s expectations. Ubisoft had anticipated higher demand for the game, leading to the decision to hold off on increasing investments in the VR market. The VR industry needs to “take off” before Ubisoft commits more resources to the platform.
Apple Vision Pro Impresses Ubisoft, but No Plans to Expand VR Development
Despite being “very impressed” with Apple’s new spatial computer, Guillemot stated that Ubisoft does not plan to expand its VR development efforts. While the company will continue to keep an eye on the VR market, it believes that VR needs to grow considerably more before it justifies significant investments.
A Look Back at Ubisoft’s History in VR
Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR is not Ubisoft’s first foray into the VR market. The French-based publisher has previously released several games for virtual reality headsets, including Star Trek: Bridge Crew, Space Junkies, and Transference. Additionally, Ubisoft has developed virtual reality experiences such as Far Cry VR: Dive Into Insanity and Escape The Lost Pyramid.
Ubisoft’s VR Investment Decision Consistent with Past Actions
Ubisoft’s choice to withhold further investments in VR is in line with its previous decisions. The company had previously canceled a VR game based on Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell franchise, which would have been exclusive to Meta Quest headsets. This latest confirmation from Ubisoft underscores the challenges faced by publishers in the VR market.
Conclusion
Ubisoft’s CEO’s revelation that the company will not be increasing its investment in VR games after the disappointing sales of Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR is a blow to VR fans. While Ubisoft acknowledged Apple’s impressive entry into the market with the Vision Pro, the company remains cautious about expanding its VR development efforts until the VR market gains sufficient traction. This decision aligns with Ubisoft’s history of making similar choices in the past, including canceling a VR game based on Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell franchise.
Analyst comment
Negative news. The disappointing sales of Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR have led Ubisoft to withhold further investments in the VR market. The market is not growing enough to justify significant investments at this time.
