Most companies have become console-focused, outside of trying to topple World of Warcraft every few years. Tucked away in its earning release this morning, however, Ubisoft casually mentioned it would be announcing an "ambitious" PC game based on one of its "top gamer" franchises. Makes ya go hmm.

Here's the full quote:

"In the coming days," said Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, "we will officially announce an ambitious project on PC based on one of our top gamer franchises that will illustrate our capacity to take advantage of new business models."

The last bit there set off some alarms: "new business models." Free-to-play remains a popular testing ground for Western companies, even if most commercial success is happening on Facebook. Ubisoft has been playing around with Facebook games for a while now, though, even debuting the first pieces of information about Assassin's Creed: Revelations through a recent Facebook-based viral campaign.

Most companies have become console-focused, outside of trying to topple World of Warcraft every few years. Tucked away in its earning release this morning, however, Ubisoft casually mentioned it would be announcing an "ambitious" PC game based on one of its "top gamer" franchises. Makes ya go hmm.

Here's the full quote:

"In the coming days," said Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, "we will officially announce an ambitious project on PC based on one of our top gamer franchises that will illustrate our capacity to take advantage of new business models."

The last bit there set off some alarms: "new business models." Free-to-play remains a popular testing ground for Western companies, even if most commercial success is happening on Facebook. Ubisoft has been playing around with Facebook games for a while now, though, even debuting the first pieces of information about Assassin's Creed: Revelations through a recent Facebook-based viral campaign.

This will be interesting.

Ubisoft and PC? Hahahahahaha! They think all PC gamers are pirates.

Probably a new ambitious DRM that will be a game in and of itself. 

Is it just a disk with DRM on it?

Thief?

I bet it has to do with their AC FB game.

It better be Trackmania related. >:(

Unless its GRAW 3 I dont really care about ubisoft.

New ghost recon new ghost recon new ghost recon. I hope its a new ghost recon.

"

*DRM joke*

"

I say Might and Magic facebook game

" Is it just a disk with DRM on it? "

I remember hearing an interview with Jade Raymond saying that she thought that the future is veering towards free-to-play and facebook friendly games... I hope that the new game is a legitimate PC game but I fear that in part due to the Raymond interview coupled with Ubisoft's track record with releasing shovelware, I am skeptical to say the least...

A Free to play Rainbow6 browser game with  microtransactions ?

The " our capacity to take advantage of new business models" line made me lose all interest in this news. It's going to be a stupid pay-2-win or facebook game.

Prediction: The game will sell poorly due to people pirating it "in the name of protest/justice" over Ubisoft's DRM and PC attitude.

A year later the same people will complain when the new Thief game is ported from the console with a delayed release.

" Prediction: The game will sell poorly due to people pirating it "in the name of protest/justice" over Ubisoft's DRM and PC attitude.A year later these same people will be complaining when the new Thief game is a console port with a delayed release. "

" Prediction: The game will sell poorly due to people pirating it "in the name of protest/justice" over Ubisoft's DRM and PC attitude.A year later the same people will complain when the new Thief game is ported from the console with a delayed release. "

" @Underachiever007 said:

"

*DRM joke*

"

DRM Madness! "

Well lets go then, just go another route with the DRM. Hello Steam, I think maybe they should look there. Any constant internet connection is just not as "everyone's got internet" because how about "everyone's got a constant and noninterrupting connection."  Whatever, I may be okay with some DRM if the game is good, cause I love a good PC game. If this is some dumbed down thing and  it has DRM. Well fail then.

Hopefully its good

Also Brotherhood has shipped 7.2 million copies. Both AC1 and AC2 sold 9 million copies. MILK! MILK! This year's AC will sell even less. AND THERE IS ANOTHER ONE IN 2012! MOO MOO!

" Well lets go then, just go another route with the DRM. Hello Steam, I think maybe they should look there. Any constant internet connection is just not as "everyone's got internet" because how about "everyone's got a constant and noninterrupting connection."  Whatever, I may be okay with some DRM if the game is good, cause I love a good PC game. If this is some dumbed down thing and  it has DRM. Well fail then. "

Assassin's Creed: Empire. Based on the gameplay styles of Civilization and the Total War games. They've gotta start really milking that franchise Halo-style about now.

I want Ghost Recon or Rainbow 6. PLEASE?

it's probably a mmo.... color me completely uninterested... no matter what franchise they go for.

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhoods - Massively Multiplayer Online Assassination Simulator

" I bet it has to do with their AC FB game. "

" Also Brotherhood has shipped 7.2 million copies. Both AC1 and AC2 sold 9 million copies. MILK! MILK! This year's AC will sell even less. AND THERE IS ANOTHER ONE IN 2012! MOO MOO! "

An Assassin's Creed mmo where the quests are actually fun and they take hours to complete as you set up an assassination but give you a TON of XP would be awesome.  Could have "dungeons" that are just castles you infiltrate with a group and take out targets.

Or a free to play Rainbow Six as long as it's good.

Even with the popularity of Assassin's Creed I can't see this being an Assassin's Creed MMO. Think it'll be something totally different. 

I'm with everyone else on an Assassin's Creed MMO, but the big reveal is that it somehow ties Splinter Cell into the world. 

I'm guessing this has to do with the Might and Magic license. And yeah, cheap smelly loser pirates will use Ubisoft's DRM as a flimsy excuse to pirate it, because they're pathetic virgins that nobody will ever love.

" @ProfessorEss said:

" Prediction: The game will sell poorly due to people pirating it "in the name of protest/justice" over Ubisoft's DRM and PC attitude.A year later the same people will complain when the new Thief game is ported from the console with a delayed release. "

Yep, circle of life. "

If it's PC only I'd guess it's either the long-rumored Tom Clancy universe MMO or some sort of social game. 

You know, I'll admit that I'm a little oversensitive to folks using the word "gamer," but " based on one of our top gamer franchises"?! Why would you not just say "top game franchises," Ubisoft? That doesn't even mean anything!

Rainbow Six: Warriors of Rock

" Rainbow Six: Warriors of Rock "

Oh, UBI! Do I love you or what.

F2P Ghost Recon/Rainbow Six?

" Also Brotherhood has shipped 7.2 million copies. Both AC1 and AC2 sold 9 million copies. MILK! MILK! This year's AC will sell even less. AND THERE IS ANOTHER ONE IN 2012! MOO MOO! "

I bet you anything it will be Far Cry 3.

DRM2: The Rise of DRM

Who knows what this madness is.

" Ubisoft and PC? Hahahahahaha! They think all PC gamers are pirates. "

Beyond Good and .....

gamers found that game to be top right? no? Oh. :(

" @phrosnite said:

" Ubisoft and PC? Hahahahahaha! They think all PC gamers are pirates. "

That was exactly what I was thinking. Ubisoft support pc gaming this gen? lol wut? "