Ubisoft Wants To Challenge EA Sports

by pastapadre
Posted February 17th, 2009 at 8:31 am

ubisoftlogo

The CEO of Ubisoft came out yesterday and stated the company will be looking to increase their share of the sports game market this year. Leading up to the end of 2009, Shaun White Snowboarding was a big success for the company selling 2.3 million worldwide. They remain open to the acquisition of development studios in achieving this goal.

Pointing to Shaun White Snowboarding isn’t exactly a great example of how they would be able to take on EA Sports however. At this point it is difficult to imagine another company jumping in fresh and paying for league license rights to produce sports simulations. They can’t be involved with the MLB or NFL. Might be able to do something with the NBA given that Midway dropped out of their contract with the league. More likely though on their own Ubisoft could continue with the more tailored Wii titles as there seems to be potential there or arcade style games that don’t require a particular license.

The thing that came to mind when I heard this was the potential of Ubisoft purchasing 2K Sports. The division has been losing money for Take Two and they’ve been seeking potential suitors for quite a while. As Ubisoft makes this public declaration they would seem to be the most likely destination for 2K Sports to end up if a sale were to happen. While there isn’t much room for a company to create new franchises in the main sports, by aquiring 2K Sports they would have the development studios that are already creating these games without splitting sales of the titles any further in a shriking potential consumer base.

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Rjinswand

EA holds a lot of Ubi stocks - they wouldn't try to compete with EA just as they don't try at the moment (look at the game line-up and when those titles were released) so I doubt they have interest in 2Ks titles; the MLB license would maybe be of interest, though.
It's more likely, that they go for more titles in seemingly smaller segments, which - as they see with that snowboarding title - can generate a lot of sales.

footballgamer

If this is what it takes for the consumers to have a choice in what sports titles they want to purchase on an annual basis, so be it. I will be a supporter of any merger or deal from Ubisoft and 2k to remain in contention in the sports game market. I can speak for many people that we do not want one company making average sports licensed games......now and into the future.

Skihawks

Sam Fisher at Power Forward? Yeah, I don't think so. I love Ubi's games (Splinter Cell and the GRAW series' are awesome) but I am not feeling Ubi in the sports market....

If they purchase 2K and keep the developers, what really is going to change?

DaveDQ

Doesn't EA own part of Ubisoft?

I'm ok with Captain Scott Mitchell taking point for the Celtics.

ReignMan

Well definetely Ubisoft is producering its frenchises much wiser, than EA do. I feel like EA is just trying to sell something same 3 or 4 times, but Ubisoft is always changing, the titles of the same frenchise (Rainbox 6, Splinter Cell, Prince of Persia) always shows something new, it doest fell like the same old "foxskin". Plus now their PC games are being released for a reduced price, around 30 dollars. I feel like Ubisoft gives more freedom and time to the dev team, its like more about the creativity and art, and less about the money.

But anyway, I could not imagine, 2k sports would go to Ubisoft, 2k sports develops american sports game, and Ubisoft is basicly an european company.

igjoe

I also think this would be a great idea. 2K and Ubisoft are two of my favs and both companies could benefit from the strengths that each of them have. However, I do see how this could also have the opposite effect and eventually bring both of them down... I'm all for taking a shot though. Where would we be without taking risks?

Mark

I think this is a good idea for Ubisoft and for the consumers. I really feel like 2K Sports is going downhill in a hurry, and Ubisoft might be able to steer things a little clearer. I have seen what they are able to do with the Slinter Cell series and Assasins Creed. They really know how to design a game, and would be able to vastly improve the 2K Sports market...

J-Claw

Oh great. Get ready for the Imagine series to come to sports.

Imagine Footballz
Imagine Basketballz
Imagine Tenniz

Brian M.

^^^ Idiot.
Anyways, it's a bad idea Ubisoft. Stick with what you know.

ihatefirstfags

haha nobody can say "...first" you losers.

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