Ubisoft Takes Over Development of March of Giants, a Forthcoming MOBA, from Amazon Game Studios

In a recent announcement, Ubisoft revealed that it has acquired the highly anticipated MOBA, March of Giants, along with its Montreal-based development team, from Amazon Game Studios. This move comes on the heels of Amazon's decision to downsize its game publishing operations as part of a broader reduction in workforce. The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed. The March of Giants team, led by Creative Director Xavier Marquis, who previously served as the Creative Director of Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege, and Senior Production Leader Alexandre Parizeau, formerly the Managing Director of Ubisoft Toronto, will be integrated into one of Ubisoft's Creative Houses. This acquisition is part of Ubisoft's ongoing restructuring efforts, which include the establishment of the Tencent-backed subsidiary Vantage Studios to oversee the development of popular franchises such as Assassin's Creed, Rainbow Six, and Far Cry. March of Giants, which was first announced in September and recently completed a closed alpha, is currently preparing for a major update that will introduce new features, expanded competitive modes, and foundational systems designed to support long-term growth. As part of the agreement, Amazon will provide Ubisoft with marketing support for the game on Twitch. According to Yves Guillemot, Ubisoft's CEO, 'March of Giants has the potential to bring a fresh and dynamic experience to players, and we're excited to welcome back the talented team, including Alexandre and Xavier, who have previously worked at Ubisoft.' Guillemot added that the team's ambition, creativity, and talent align perfectly with Ubisoft's goal of creating bold new experiences for players. Xavier Marquis, Creative Director of March of Giants, expressed his excitement about returning to Ubisoft, stating, 'We're proud of what we've built, and we're looking forward to continuing to develop March of Giants from within Ubisoft.' Steve Boom, VP of Audio, Twitch, and Games at Amazon, also commented on the acquisition, saying, 'We're confident that under Ubisoft's leadership, the talented developers in Montreal will continue to thrive and create amazing game experiences.' This development follows Amazon's decision to lay off 14,000 workers across its business, which was attributed to a shift in resources to focus on the company's most significant investments. The news also comes after Amazon's largest MMO, New World, announced that it would no longer receive updates, and the company's co-op party platformer, King of Meat, failed to make a significant impact despite an extensive marketing campaign.