After the successes of Ubisoft's multiplayer and co-op titles in terms of consistent microtransactions and DLC sales, the company may be kissing those single player titles goodbye and aiming to focus on developing multiplayer titles instead. This decision is apparently based on the company's sales wherein their most lucrative games appear to be multiplayer titles including Rainbow Six Siege, The Division, and The Crew, all of which are racking up recurring revenues due to "online services" or better known as "microtransactions."
Ubisoft's Sales Are Higher On Multiplayer Games
Ubisoft is shifting their game lineups and focusing toward service games, recurring revenue, and online/MP support; which means the video game development company are looking into making more microtransaction and DLC based service games since it's been giving them the most amount of money. Their 'Multi-Centric Titles' by far have the most numbers in terms of players engagement and persistent revenues, hence, multiplayer titles might be the most profitable venture Ubisoft will be setting their sights on. They'll be looking into making games that will engage players for the long term.
According to Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Yves Guillemot, "Our excellent performance in the second quarter as well as the sharp improvement in our profitability during the first six months of the fiscal year are proof that we have gotten both our digital strategy and our approach to multiplayer games right. The Crew, The Division and Rainbow Six Siege each have more than 10 million registered players, demonstrating that we are effectively executing our business development plan and moving towards an ever-more recurring model. All of our actions and initiatives are aimed at achieving this objective."
Guillemot added that Ubisoft is well positioned in achieving a very high-value creation in the future. The company will be creating powerful franchises that seek to offer long-term visibility. With the mention of their eSports investments and Live experiences for the console and PC games, Ubisoft may be well away in encouraging long-term player engagement.
What It Means For Popular Single Player Titles
According to 'The Know,' players and fans of Ubisoft can expect more emphasis on multiplayer and cooperative challenge modes in upcoming Assassin's Creed and Far Cry games with DLCs and Season Passes that focuses on that particular mode. The new business development plan is now in motion with the release of their new game 'Watch Dogs 2.' The game whose emphasis on co-op gameplay is staggeringly obvious has released its Pre-Order and Season Pass details.
However apparent multiplayer profitability may be, as can be seen from GTA Online, Destiny, and The Division, fans think it's important to note and consider the single player titles that contradict this argument. Games like Bethesda's Skyrim, Fallout 4 and Doom have sold really well, not to mention Uncharted 4 and Witcher 3. If Ubisoft's single player titles aren't doing as well as their multiplayer counterparts, it could mean their games are just not as good.
