E3 2017: Ubisoft Open To Fresh Ideas For Old Franchises
One of the hardest things to do in the video game industry is keep franchises fresh. Especially when they’re so successful in the early runs and thus have loyal fanbases. Cause when you fail to live up to their expectations, they call you out on it. Ubisoft has had a lot of experience with this. Yet, fans still want titles from franchises like Splinter Cell, Prince of Persia, and more from their lineup.
At E3 2017, IGN spoke with Ubisoft Montreal CEO Yannis Mallat, and asked about whether these franchises could ever truly return. His answer was simple, they could, if the ideas were right and fresh:
“I like to think of the studio as a huge…creative collective. So, if some of the creative comes to us and says ‘Hey, by the way, I have this crazy idea’ about a brand that we haven’t done anything with for many years, we will listen.”
But, as in all things, ideas aren’t enough, the market also has to be right for the game to return. That said, even if they aren’t right for the market at the moment, they’re still open to hearing thoughts.
“There is a question of does it make sense, is there a market,” Mallat said. “But it’s open for the creatives to propose something.”