Ubisoft CEO: cloud streaming ‘is kind of a revolution’

Ubisoft boss Yves Guillemot is backing cloud streaming technology like Google Stadia in the company’s bid to reach five billion players in the next decade.

In an interview with VentureBeat, the CEO of the publisher-developer said he believes streaming games will be revolutionary as no expensive hardware is required, making it easier than ever for people to get involved.

Guillemot also intimated that the evolving technology will put pressure on the game industry to “grow tremendously”.

“What we saw [with Stadia] is that streaming is going to be the biggest,” Guillemot said. “It will be available for free if you plan on a low resolution. It’s kind of a revolution. It’s going to give access to everyone.

“You only buy the pad next year. That will put pressure on the industry, with a new model that can help the industry grow tremendously. Microsoft will almost certainly answer Sony. Sony announced they will come with a machine next year, and Microsoft is certainly going to say something in response.”

“These two events are huge,” he added. “They give us a chance for us to have our triple-A games on mobile devices. Those are the big trends that are going to change the industry.

“We want to have games that are easy to access and can be played by everyone,” Guillemot said.

Consequently, Guillemot insists Ubisoft will be moving with the times and adapting its business model to make its games more accessible than ever, and that “the industry is changing so often that you have to take risks”.

Google confirmed on Thursday that Stadia will launch in 14 countries in November 2019. Launch games include Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, the latest Tomb Raider titles, Doom Eternal, Destiny 2, The Division 2, Mortal Kombat and Ghost Recon: Breakpoint.