Ubisoft Reports Q3 2026 Growth Driven by Assassin's Creed Shadows Release on Nintendo Switch 2
Ubisoft, one of the gaming industry's leading publishers, has unveiled its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2026, citing significant growth for its flagship Assassin's Creed franchise.
Central to this performance was the successful launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows on the Nintendo Switch 2, which the company credits as a key factor in expanding the series' audience and driving engagement to new heights. Assassin's Creed Shadows arrived on Nintendo Switch 2 in late 2025, marking the first mainline entry in the blockbuster series to debut on Nintendo’s next-generation hardware.
This move has evidently resonated with both new and returning players.
According to Ubisoft’s official Q3 financial report, active users in the Assassin’s Creed ecosystem have experienced double-digit year-on-year growth.
The company highlights that Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ release on Switch 2 “broadened its audience,” contributing notably to the franchise's overall performance this quarter. Additionally, Ubisoft noted the impact of the 'Valley of Memory' update for Assassin’s Creed Mirage, which was released in November 2025, as another important driver for player retention and engagement.
These developments reinforce Ubisoft’s continued commitment to live content updates as a strategy for sustaining player interest across its core series. Ubisoft’s CEO and Co-Founder Yves Guillemot commented on the company’s results, stating, “We delivered a solid third-quarter performance, with net bookings growing at a double-digit rate year-on-year, exceeding our expectations.
This growth demonstrates the robustness of our portfolio and the widespread engagement from our core franchises, bolstered by new releases and ongoing live updates that continue to resonate with our global player base.” The publisher is simultaneously advancing a major internal restructuring effort.
Ubisoft is currently engaged in consultations at its Paris headquarters to reduce its workforce by approximately 200 employees.
At the same time, the company is transitioning to a new operating model built around five 'creative houses.' The flagship of this model, Vantage Studios, has been operational since October 2025 and is focused on delivering high-quality content for marquee franchises such as Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six.
Ubisoft aims to finalize its new structure by April 2026, with ongoing leadership appointments that include industry veterans to steer its creative direction. These changes and successes underscore Ubisoft’s strategy to strengthen its creative output and focus on key franchises, particularly as the Nintendo Switch 2 establishes itself as a major platform for new releases.
The momentum from Assassin’s Creed Shadows, coupled with Ubisoft’s structured modernization, positions the company for continued growth as it supports both legacy fans and new players on Nintendo’s latest hardware. As Ubisoft continues to invest in the Assassin’s Creed series and expand its presence on Nintendo platforms, industry watchers will be alert to further announcements, including new content and potential remasters.
The latest data reinforces that multi-platform reach and dedicated live service updates remain central pillars of the publisher’s success.
Central to this performance was the successful launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows on the Nintendo Switch 2, which the company credits as a key factor in expanding the series' audience and driving engagement to new heights. Assassin's Creed Shadows arrived on Nintendo Switch 2 in late 2025, marking the first mainline entry in the blockbuster series to debut on Nintendo’s next-generation hardware.
This move has evidently resonated with both new and returning players.
According to Ubisoft’s official Q3 financial report, active users in the Assassin’s Creed ecosystem have experienced double-digit year-on-year growth.
The company highlights that Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ release on Switch 2 “broadened its audience,” contributing notably to the franchise's overall performance this quarter. Additionally, Ubisoft noted the impact of the 'Valley of Memory' update for Assassin’s Creed Mirage, which was released in November 2025, as another important driver for player retention and engagement.
These developments reinforce Ubisoft’s continued commitment to live content updates as a strategy for sustaining player interest across its core series. Ubisoft’s CEO and Co-Founder Yves Guillemot commented on the company’s results, stating, “We delivered a solid third-quarter performance, with net bookings growing at a double-digit rate year-on-year, exceeding our expectations.
This growth demonstrates the robustness of our portfolio and the widespread engagement from our core franchises, bolstered by new releases and ongoing live updates that continue to resonate with our global player base.” The publisher is simultaneously advancing a major internal restructuring effort.
Ubisoft is currently engaged in consultations at its Paris headquarters to reduce its workforce by approximately 200 employees.
At the same time, the company is transitioning to a new operating model built around five 'creative houses.' The flagship of this model, Vantage Studios, has been operational since October 2025 and is focused on delivering high-quality content for marquee franchises such as Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six.
Ubisoft aims to finalize its new structure by April 2026, with ongoing leadership appointments that include industry veterans to steer its creative direction. These changes and successes underscore Ubisoft’s strategy to strengthen its creative output and focus on key franchises, particularly as the Nintendo Switch 2 establishes itself as a major platform for new releases.
The momentum from Assassin’s Creed Shadows, coupled with Ubisoft’s structured modernization, positions the company for continued growth as it supports both legacy fans and new players on Nintendo’s latest hardware. As Ubisoft continues to invest in the Assassin’s Creed series and expand its presence on Nintendo platforms, industry watchers will be alert to further announcements, including new content and potential remasters.
The latest data reinforces that multi-platform reach and dedicated live service updates remain central pillars of the publisher’s success.
