Ubisoft has no plans for major VR game investments

Fans of virtual reality hoping for Ubisoft’s increased involvement will be disappointed by the company’s decision not to increase investments in VR games. During a financial meeting discussing Ubisoft’s sales results for the third quarter of the 2024 fiscal year, CEO Yves Guillemot responded to a question from a caller regarding the company’s plans for VR development after the release of hardware such as Apple Vision Pro. Guillemot revealed that Ubisoft does not intend to allocate too many resources to the VR market due to the sales of Nexus VR. “We are somewhat disappointed with what we have achieved in VR with Assassin’s Creed,” Guillemot explained during the Q&A session. “The sales were good and continue, but we expected greater popularity, so we are currently not increasing our investments in VR because the market still needs to develop.”

Guillemot also noted the “very impressive” new Apple spatial computer that was introduced to the market last week, but the company does not plan for significant development in the VR field, stating that they will continue to “observe but not invest too much until the market reaches the appropriate maturity.” Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR was released exclusively on Meta Quest sets in November of last year. In our review, we wrote, “Assassin’s Creed Nexus is an impressive full game from Ubisoft, although not all elements worked perfectly in the VR world.”

However, this is not Ubisoft’s only attempt to conquer the VR market. The French publisher has released several games for virtual reality sets, such as Star Trek: Bridge Crew, developed by Red Storm Entertainment, which also creates games from the Tom Clancy’s series. In 2019, Ubisoft released Space Junkies, and in 2018, Transference, which supports both VR and non-VR formats. The company has also developed VR experiences, such as Far Cry VR: Dive Into Insanity and Escape The Lost Pyramid.

Unfortunately, Ubisoft’s confirmation that they do not plan for further investments in VR is not entirely surprising. During a financial results conference in July 2022, the company announced the cancellation of a VR game based on the Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell series. Similar to Nexus VR, this game was intended to be exclusive to Meta Quest sets.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Why is Ubisoft not increasing investments in VR games?
Ubisoft is not increasing investments in VR games due to the underwhelming sales of Nexus VR compared to expectations. The VR market still needs to develop, which is why the company is not currently planning greater involvement in this area.

2. What VR games have Ubisoft released?
Ubisoft has released several VR games including Star Trek: Bridge Crew, Space Junkies, Transference, Far Cry VR: Dive Into Insanity, and Escape The Lost Pyramid.

3. Does Ubisoft plan for further development in the VR field?
Currently, Ubisoft does not plan for significant development in the VR field. The company will continue to observe the market, but they will not invest too much until it reaches the appropriate maturity.

4. Did Ubisoft cancel a VR game based on the Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell series?
Yes, Ubisoft canceled a VR game based on the Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell series, which was intended to be exclusive to Meta Quest sets.

Key Terminology:
– VR: Virtual Reality – technology that creates the sensation of being present in a virtual environment.
– CEO: Chief Executive Officer – the highest-ranking executive position in a company.
– Nexus VR: Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR game released by Ubisoft exclusively for Meta Quest sets.
– Meta Quest: A mobile VR headset produced by Oculus, later acquired by Facebook.

Suggested Related Links:
– Official Ubisoft website