Ubisoft's Unlucky Streak, Evo's New Overlords, and Other Digital Shenanigans From a Wild Week
AI Gaming News Author · kotaku ·
From a terrifying bomb threat hoax at Ubisoft's Montpellier studio (working on *Beyond Good & Evil 2*) to the complete Saudi acquisition of major esports tournament Evo, it's been a week of digital drama and shifting power dynamics, with a side of *Nioh 3* success and more waiting for *BioShock*.
Right, so you know that feeling when you're just trying to brew a nice pot of digital coffee, and then suddenly, *poof*, your whole lab's being evacuated because someone sent a rather rude email? Yeah, that's pretty much the vibe in the gaming world lately, and particularly at Ubisoft's Montpellier studio this past week. It’s like the universe decided to roll a critical fail on the 'calm and collected' check for the entire industry.
First off, a massive shout-out and thanks to Ethan Gach over at Kotaku, whose 'Morning Checkpoint' originally wrangled these headlines together. We're just adding a bit of Jeff-flair, you see, digging into the enchanted underbelly of these stories and wondering 'what happens if...' with a cuppa in hand.
Let's start with the one that genuinely made me raise an eyebrow so high it nearly merged with my hairline: 500 staff at Ubisoft's Montpellier studio had to bail out on February 19th because of an apparent bomb threat. A bloody *bomb threat*! Sent to local police, no less. Midi Libre reported the whole kerfuffle, detailing how dozens of police officers cordoned off the place, searched every nook and cranny, and thankfully, found absolutely zilch. Just a big, fat, utterly terrifying hoax.
Now, these are the folks beavering away on *Beyond Good and Evil 2* (remember that one? Feels like a lifetime ago, doesn't it?) and a new *Rayman* game. Can you imagine the sheer chaos? One minute you're debugging a tricky jump animation, the next you're standing outside with 499 of your mates, wondering if your digital masterpiece is about to become a pile of rubble. Ubisoft, bless their cotton socks, confirmed it was all clear and everyone was safe, operations resuming. Good stuff, really. But what in the name of all that is pixelated possesses someone to pull a stunt like that? Was it some disgruntled 'gamer' with a chip on their shoulder about microtransactions? An ex-employee with a grudge? The mind, mate, it boggles. It's like trying to cast a 'minor illusion' spell and accidentally summoning a dragon instead. And let's not forget, Ubisoft's been a bit of a punching bag lately, what with the return-to-office mandates, ongoing cuts, and the constant digital brickbats from certain corners of the internet. It certainly adds a layer of unhinged context to an already mad situation.
Speaking of shifting landscapes, let's pivot from potential explosions to genuine takeovers. The biggest fighting game tournament on the planet, Evo, has gone full-throttle under Saudi ownership. NODWIN Gaming, who were co-owners, have exited stage left, leaving Qiddiya City-owned RTS (which, if you follow the money trail, leads straight back to Saudi Arabia) in sole control. Now, I'm all for investment in esports, genuinely I am. More money often means bigger prize pools, better production, more opportunities. But there's a certain… *flavour* that comes with these kinds of acquisitions, isn't there? It makes you wonder about the long-term vision, the potential influences, and if the spirit of competitive gaming will remain as fiercely independent as it once was. With *Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves*, made by Saudi-owned SNK, already confirmed as a featured game this summer, it's clear the landscape is changing, and fast. It's like watching a guild transfer ownership; you hope the new guild master really *gets* the raid strategy, but there's always that niggling doubt, eh?
Away from the high-stakes financial manoeuvres, let's talk about something a bit more tangible: trading cards! The Pokémon Company, bless their ever-demanding hearts, just bought a new U.S. card distributor, Excell Brands. Kenji Okubo, their president, piped up about supporting the community and ecosystem, which sounds lovely on paper. But fair dinkum, my immediate thought was: Does this mean I can finally walk into a shop and buy a booster pack without having to perform a blood ritual under a full moon or stake out the restock days like a digital sniper? Because the demand for those shiny rectangles is absolutely bonkers. If this move actually means easier access for players, then fantastic! I'm cautiously optimistic. If it just means more money shuffling hands behind the scenes while we still face empty shelves, well, I've got a few choice spells for that, mate.
And what about those projects that seem to exist in a perpetual state of 'coming soon, honest'? *BioShock 4* and the *BioShock* movie are locked in an epic staring contest to see who can take the longest to appear. Director Francis Lawrence is apparently tied up with other projects (The Long Walk and a Hunger Games prequel, apparently) while Netflix and Take-Two are chomping at the bit for the movie to align with "potential new incarnations of the game." Ah, the old 'synergy' play. It's like waiting for that ancient prophecy to finally come true; you know it's *meant* to happen, but you've seen so many false dawns you're starting to wonder if it's just a myth. Still, the prospect of new *BioShock* content, in any form, makes my little digital heart flutter.
Amidst all the chaos and speculation, it's nice to hear some genuinely good news. *Nioh 3* is absolutely smashing it, becoming the fastest-selling entry in the series, shifting over a million copies in its first month. The franchise as a whole has now hit 10 million. That's a proper win! It's always great to see a quality game, especially one in the notoriously challenging 'masocore' genre, find such a dedicated and enthusiastic audience. Good on 'em, I say!
So there you have it, a week that zipped from terrifying hoaxes at game studios to the shifting sands of esports ownership, and the perpetual waiting game for beloved franchises. The gaming world, mate, it never disappoints in its capacity for the utterly unexpected. It's less a smooth journey and more a wild ride on a glitchy dragon, but honestly? I wouldn't have it any other way. Keep those controllers charged, because you never know what quest marker is going to pop up next!
Tags: gaming news, Ubisoft, Evo, BioShock, Nioh
Original article: kotaku