Pixel P&L: Ubisoft Creates New Powerhouse Studio With Tencent Backing

In today’s edition of Pixel P&L, we cover Ubisoft’s blockbuster partnership with Tencent, JetSynthesys Founder and CEO Rajan Navani’s remarks on the potential of India’s gaming market, Scopely’s $1B marketing push behind Monopoly Go, the revival of Game Informer, and more from the gaming industry.

Ubisoft Forms New Subsidiary With Tencent Backing to Reinvent Flagship Franchises

Ubisoft is creating a new subsidiary backed by Chinese tech giant Tencent, focused on transforming its flagship franchises—Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six—into “evergreen, multi-platform ecosystems.” Tencent will invest €1.16 billion (USD $1.25 billion) for a 25% stake, with the deal expected to close by the end of 2025. The unit will consolidate Ubisoft teams from Montreal, Quebec, Barcelona, and other key studios.

The new venture will push live-service elements, more frequent content drops, free-to-play touchpoints, and social features, while maintaining a commitment to narrative-driven solo experiences. The initiative follows several lackluster releases and declining profits, though recent success with Assassin’s Creed Shadows may have helped spark investor interest. 

CEO Yves Guillemot called the move a “foundational step” in making Ubisoft more agile and focused. Notably, franchises like Prince of Persia and Just Dance were left out of the announcement, leaving their future direction unclear.

JetSynthesys CEO: India Could Claim 5% of Global Gaming Market by 2030

India could account for as much as 5% of the global video gaming market by the end of the decade, up from its current 2% share, according to JetSynthesys Founder and CEO Rajan Navani.

In an interview with The Hindu Business Line, Navani said sustained double-digit growth will be critical to achieving this target. “This timeline would also require high double-digit growth for the next 5–10 years,” he noted, adding that India is already seeing “40% year-on-year growth” in in-app purchases, though from a relatively small base.

Navani attributed India’s momentum to a combination of domestic game development and backend support for international titles. He emphasized that the country's large consumer base and accelerating digital adoption provide a strong foundation for future expansion.

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Scopely Has Spent Over $1 Billion Marketing Monopoly Go

Scopely has invested more than $1 billion in marketing its breakout mobile hit Monopoly Go, co-CEO Javier Ferreira told Bloomberg. The figure confirms long-running speculation about the scale of the game’s user acquisition effort. Third-party estimates had previously pegged that spend as high as $1.5 billion, though Scopely has disputed those claims, stating the game is “one of the most profitable mobile titles” currently in the market.

Game Informer has Officially Returned

Game Informer has returned after its August 2024 shutdown by GameStop, now operating independently under new owner Gunzilla Games. Editor-in-chief Matt Miller confirmed the entire editorial team is back and the site’s archives restored, with full editorial control retained under the new entity, Game Informer Inc.

Discord Advances IPO Plans, Taps Goldman and JPMorgan

Discord Inc. has hired Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase to work on a potential IPO, Bloomberg reported, following earlier coverage by The Financial Times that the chat platform was in talks with banks about going public. A listing could come as soon as this year, though plans may shift. Discord, last valued at $14.7 billion, has seen revenue climb past $600 million and is expanding its footprint in the gaming ecosystem.

Simplified Chinese Overtakes English as Top Language on Steam

Simplified Chinese has edged past English to become the most-used language on Steam, making up 33.7% of users compared to English’s 33.5%, according to data shared by Valve at GDC and highlighted by GameDiscover.

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💡Did You Know

The Expanse, the acclaimed sci-fi TV series, actually began as a tabletop role-playing game. Ty Franck created the universe as a custom RPG setting, complete with deep lore and hard science. When author Daniel Abraham joined a game session, he was so impressed by the detailed world-building that he suggested turning it into a novel. The result was Leviathan Wakes, the first book in the series, which earned a Hugo nomination and kicked off a bestselling franchise. That literary success eventually launched The Expanse TV series, proving that even casual RPG campaigns can evolve into epic, universe-spanning sagas.

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