Streaming to Revolutionize Gaming Industry, Says Ubisoft CEO

The CEO of Ubisoft, Yves Guillemot, predicts that the gaming industry is on the cusp of a significant transformation driven by streaming technology, drawing parallels with the impact Netflix has had on the television and film sectors. In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Guillemot outlined the reasoning behind Ubisoft's decision to secure cloud gaming rights for all Activision Blizzard titles, citing the inevitable shift towards cloud-based gaming. Guillemot recalled the initial skepticism surrounding Netflix's foray into streaming, noting that the company's stock prices plummeted and it faced widespread criticism. The Ubisoft executive expressed confidence that within the next five to 10 years, a substantial portion of games will be streamed and developed in the cloud, underscoring the motivation behind the company's partnership with Microsoft. Furthermore, Guillemot highlighted the potential of emerging mobile devices, such as the latest iPhone release, to facilitate the expansion of cloud gaming beyond European and US markets. The agreement between Ubisoft and Microsoft will grant the company the rights to commercialize and license cloud-based versions of Activision Blizzard titles over the course of 15 years.