Subject category:
Strategy and General Management
Published by:
ESSEC Business School
Length: 9 pages
Data source: Published sources
Abstract
In 'Ubisoft-Vivendi: Sustaining growth in the video game industry' students or experienced participants are given an opportunity to examine the challenges faced by Ubisoft, an established French Canadian publisher in the video game industry. The company is facing revenue stagnation in its core markets, increasing competitive pressures by peers and has witnessed a disruption of traditional industry dynamics following the emergence and diffusion of mobile gaming. The company needs to decide how to address these challenges while addressing the hostile takeover attempt by Vivendi, a French media conglomerate. The events described in the case took place in July 2016, right after Vivendi acquired Gameloft, the mobile gaming company of the Guillemot family. Ubisoft was considering an hostile bid by Vivendi. A decision to let Vivendi take over Ubisoft and run it as part of the giant conglomerate would threaten the horizontal, community-based flat structure and culture that is the basis of Ubisoft's creative processes. At the same time, the key decision-makers, John Parkes, Managing Director of Ubisoft France, and Yves Guillemot, Ubisoft CEO and co-founder, need to convince their stakeholders about the viability of existing growth plans and devise ways to exploit novel and existing IP in new markets and fast growing geographic areas (eg, China).
Teaching and learning
This item is suitable for undergraduate, postgraduate and executive education courses.Geographical setting
Region:
World/global
Featured companies
Ubisoft
Industry:
Video games
Vivendi
Industry:
Entertainment
About
Abstract
In 'Ubisoft-Vivendi: Sustaining growth in the video game industry' students or experienced participants are given an opportunity to examine the challenges faced by Ubisoft, an established French Canadian publisher in the video game industry. The company is facing revenue stagnation in its core markets, increasing competitive pressures by peers and has witnessed a disruption of traditional industry dynamics following the emergence and diffusion of mobile gaming. The company needs to decide how to address these challenges while addressing the hostile takeover attempt by Vivendi, a French media conglomerate. The events described in the case took place in July 2016, right after Vivendi acquired Gameloft, the mobile gaming company of the Guillemot family. Ubisoft was considering an hostile bid by Vivendi. A decision to let Vivendi take over Ubisoft and run it as part of the giant conglomerate would threaten the horizontal, community-based flat structure and culture that is the basis of Ubisoft's creative processes. At the same time, the key decision-makers, John Parkes, Managing Director of Ubisoft France, and Yves Guillemot, Ubisoft CEO and co-founder, need to convince their stakeholders about the viability of existing growth plans and devise ways to exploit novel and existing IP in new markets and fast growing geographic areas (eg, China).
Teaching and learning
This item is suitable for undergraduate, postgraduate and executive education courses.Settings
Geographical setting
Region:
World/global
Featured companies
Ubisoft
Industry:
Video games
Vivendi
Industry:
Entertainment