Latest news with #UbisoftEntertainment
The Star
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
French court tries ex-bosses of Ubisoft over sex harassment
Serge Hascoët, former creative director of Ubisoft, exits the courtroom after the trial of French video game publisher Ubisoft Entertainment former executives for harrasment and sexual assault at the courthouse in Bobigny, suburb of Paris, on June 2, 2025. — AFP PARIS: Three former top executives from French video game giant Ubisoft, the maker of Assassin's Creed and Far Cry , went on trial on June 2 accused of psychologically and sexually harassing employees for years. The trial, to last until June 6, was supposed to be held in March but was adjourned after lawyers complained they received some documents too late. The industry has been scrutinised for years over its treatment of women and minorities in the workplace – and the way they are depicted in games. Ubisoft launched an internal inquiry in 2020 after anonymous testimonies emerged on social media accusing the company of a toxic work culture. Several senior executives later left the firm. The executive shake-up at Ubisoft was hailed by some as a #Metoo moment in the male-dominated video game publishing industry, which has faced criticism for misogynistic imagery often found in games. One of the accused, Serge Hascoet, resigned from his post as chief creative officer. The other two – Thomas "Tommy" Francois, vice-president of editorial and creative services, and game director Guillaume Patrux – were dismissed for serious misconduct. All three men deny the claims. Hascoet and Francois arrived at the Bobigny court outside Paris on Monday morning. Employees had complained of regular public humiliation and hazing. Francois is the focus of the most damning claims of systematic psychological and sexual harassment at the company's offices in the eastern Paris suburb of Montreuil. Between January 2012 and July 2020, Francois is alleged to have often watched pornographic films in the open-plan office and commented on the appearance of female employees. Headstand in a skirt Francois was also accused of forcing a young employee he had just hired to do a headstand in the open-plan office while wearing a skirt. He is also accused of tying the same woman to a chair and putting her in an elevator, sending her to another floor. He also allegedly forced her to attend a work meeting after he painted her face with a felt-tip pen. In addition to the accusations of sexual and psychological harassment, Francois is being prosecuted for an attempted sexual assault when he tried to forcibly kiss a young employee during a Christmas party as she was held by other colleagues. According to an investigative report seen by AFP, Francois encouraged "his subordinates to act in the same way". Hascoet is accused of lewd behaviour and posing intrusive questions of a sexual nature, as well as racist comments and behaviour. The third defendant, former game director Patrux, 39, has been accused of psychological harassment. Investigators spoke to dozens of witnesses during the probe, but "many refused to file a complaint for fear of reactions from the video game community," according to the report seen by AFP. – AFP
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
High Growth Tech Stocks in Europe for May 2025
As European markets experience a positive shift, buoyed by the easing of U.S.-China trade tensions and strong performances across major indices like the STOXX Europe 600, investors are closely watching high growth tech stocks that could capitalize on this improved sentiment. In such an environment, a good stock often demonstrates robust innovation potential and adaptability to changing market dynamics, positioning itself well for future opportunities in the tech sector. Name Revenue Growth Earnings Growth Growth Rating KebNi 21.51% 66.96% ★★★★★★ Archos 21.07% 36.58% ★★★★★★ Yubico 20.18% 30.36% ★★★★★★ Pharma Mar 25.21% 43.09% ★★★★★★ Elicera Therapeutics 75.80% 107.14% ★★★★★★ Skolon 31.51% 99.52% ★★★★★★ CD Projekt 33.48% 37.39% ★★★★★★ XTPL 86.66% 143.68% ★★★★★★ Xbrane Biopharma 24.95% 56.77% ★★★★★★ Elliptic Laboratories 36.34% 79.05% ★★★★★★ Click here to see the full list of 227 stocks from our European High Growth Tech and AI Stocks screener. We're going to check out a few of the best picks from our screener tool. Simply Wall St Growth Rating: ★★★★☆☆ Overview: Ubisoft Entertainment SA is a company that produces, publishes, and distributes video games across various platforms globally, with a market capitalization of approximately €1.30 billion. Operations: Ubisoft generates revenue through the production, publishing, and distribution of video games for consoles, PC, smartphones, and tablets in both physical and digital formats across Europe, North America, and internationally. The company's market capitalization is approximately €1.30 billion. Despite a challenging fiscal year where Ubisoft Entertainment reported a significant net loss of €159 million, contrasting starkly with the prior year's net income of €157.8 million, the company is poised for a turnaround. Forecasted to achieve profitability within three years with an impressive annual earnings growth rate of 64.31%, Ubisoft's strategic maneuvers, including its recent partnership with Tencent involving a €1.16 billion investment for a 25% stake in its new subsidiary housing major franchises like Assassin's Creed and Rainbow Six, signal robust future prospects. This move not only bolsters Ubisoft's financial position but also enhances its capability to innovate and expand its market reach amidst evolving gaming landscapes. Click to explore a detailed breakdown of our findings in Ubisoft Entertainment's health report. Understand Ubisoft Entertainment's track record by examining our Past report. Simply Wall St Growth Rating: ★★★★☆☆ Overview: Dynavox Group AB (publ) specializes in developing and selling assistive technology products for individuals with communication impairments, with a market cap of SEK10.58 billion. Operations: Dynavox Group AB (publ) generates revenue primarily from its computer hardware segment, amounting to SEK2.13 billion. The company's focus on assistive technology products supports individuals with communication impairments. Dynavox Group AB has demonstrated a robust financial trajectory, with its first-quarter sales soaring to SEK 581 million from SEK 428 million year-over-year and net income more than doubling to SEK 24 million. This performance is underpinned by a strategic expansion of its credit facilities, increasing by SEK 200 million to fuel acquisitions and organic growth. The firm's recent initiation of a share repurchase program further reflects confidence in its operational stability and future prospects. With an anticipated annual earnings growth of 29.3% outpacing the Swedish tech sector's average, Dynavox stands out for its aggressive growth strategy and market adaptability. Click here to discover the nuances of Dynavox Group with our detailed analytical health report. Examine Dynavox Group's past performance report to understand how it has performed in the past. Simply Wall St Growth Rating: ★★★★☆☆ Overview: Init innovation in traffic systems SE, along with its subsidiaries, provides intelligent transportation systems solutions for public transportation on a global scale and has a market cap of €388.13 million. Operations: Init innovation in traffic systems SE focuses on delivering intelligent transportation system solutions for public transit globally, leveraging its expertise to enhance operational efficiency and passenger experience. The company operates through diverse revenue streams that include software, hardware, and services tailored to the needs of public transport operators. Init innovation in traffic systems SE showcases resilience and strategic growth in the tech sector, with a notable 14.4% annual revenue increase to €265.67 million, underscoring its expansion amidst challenging market conditions. Despite a slight dip in net income from €2.4 million to €1.56 million in Q1 2025, the company continues to invest heavily in R&D, committing significant resources that reflect its dedication to innovation and market leadership. This approach is further exemplified by their active participation in industry conferences like Kollektivtrafikdagen 2025, signaling ongoing engagement with key industry trends and stakeholders. With earnings projected to grow by an impressive 28.9% annually, Init's strategic initiatives appear well-poised to enhance its competitive edge and foster sustained growth. Take a closer look at init innovation in traffic systems' potential here in our health report. Explore historical data to track init innovation in traffic systems' performance over time in our Past section. Delve into our full catalog of 227 European High Growth Tech and AI Stocks here. Invested in any of these stocks? Simplify your portfolio management with Simply Wall St and stay ahead with our alerts for any critical updates on your stocks. Take control of your financial future using Simply Wall St, offering free, in-depth knowledge of international markets to every investor. Explore high-performing small cap companies that haven't yet garnered significant analyst attention. Fuel your portfolio with companies showing strong growth potential, backed by optimistic outlooks both from analysts and management. Find companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include ENXTPA:UBI OM:DYVOX and XTRA:IXX. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ubisoft shares plummet 20% on sharp net bookings drop, disappointing outlook
-- Ubisoft Entertainment (EPA:UBIP) reported lower-than-expected earnings for fiscal year 2024-25 as net bookings declined 20.5% year-over-year, reflecting weaker partnerships and intense industry competition, and issued a disappointing outlook for the fiscal 2025-2026. The video game publisher posted an adjusted loss per share of €0.56, wider than analysts' estimates of a €0.47 loss. The company's shares plummeted more than 20% in Paris trading Thursday. Net bookings for the full year came in at €1.85 billion, slightly below the company's target and down from €2.32 billion in the previous year. Sales fell 17.5% to €1.90 billion, though marginally beating expectations of €1.89 billion. Ubisoft reported an operating loss of €82.6 million compared to a profit of €313.6 million a year earlier. Despite the challenging year, CEO Yves Guillemot highlighted some positives, stating: "Assassin's Creed Shadows reaffirmed the power of the Assassin's Creed brand, with a highly favorable community response from long-time fans and new players alike." The company generated positive free cash flow of €128 million, ahead of its target. However, Ubisoft expects approximately breakeven non-IFRS operating income and negative free cash flow in fiscal 2025-26 as it continues its transformation efforts. Ubisoft issued a weak outlook for 2025-2026, citing additional game delays. The company expects flat net bookings year-on-year, break-even adjusted EBIT, and over €100 million in negative free cash flow—all significantly below consensus estimates. Q1 guidance was also soft, with projected net bookings of €310 million, 13% below expectations, despite strong interest in Assassin's Creed Shadows. "It's clear that Tencent's €1.16bn cash injection into the group (to acquire a 25% stake in the new subsidiary) has eased pressure on the balance sheet, perhaps making the decision to delay games easier," Deutsche Bank analyst George Brown commented. "However, it is clear that further efforts need to be made to reduce poor profitability, notably with regards to headcount," he added. Brown highlights that Ubisoft employs around 18,000 people—two to three times more than U.S. peers—despite generating significantly lower revenue. "In the meantime, investors have little to be excited for with regards to the pipeline in FY-26 with no major games announced," he said. Luke Juricic contributed to this report. Related articles Ubisoft shares plummet 20% on sharp net bookings drop, disappointing outlook Foot Locker shares surge as Dick's mulls $24-a-share buyout SoFi targets 30% member growth, CEO talks guidance Sign in to access your portfolio
