Ubisoft CEO Questioned on Game Shutdowns, “Woke” Content

Ubisoft CEO Fielded Questions on “Woke” Content & “Stop Killing Games” at Shareholder Meeting

At Ubisoft’s annual shareholder meeting in Paris on July 10, 2025, CEO Yves Guillemot faced pointed questions in person—mirroring debates seen online. Stephen Totilo of Game File reports that a shareholder directly confronted Guillemot over two hot-button issues:

• “Woke or not woke?” — referring to the inclusion of a Black samurai protagonist in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Guillemot responded by reaffirming Ubisoft’s goal “to showcase characters with heroic journeys,” choosing not to engage with the “woke” framing.
• Support for the “Stop Killing Games” petition — which demands that publishers maintain offline playability after server shutdowns. The shareholder asked, “Do you support that petition?” Totilo notes Guillemot answered that Ubisoft is “working on” this issue.

Other highlights from the Q&A:

• Guillemot hinted at an unannounced new Ghost Recon, saying Ubisoft is preparing for its “upcoming launch.”
• He confirmed that the blockbuster budget for Assassin’s Creed Shadows exceeded €100 million.
• Guillemot also discussed Ubisoft’s interest in developing more AA-scale titles and touched on workforce trends, including a decrease in younger employees.

For a deeper look at how staffing shifts and layoffs are impacting studios in 2025, read our full analysis here: The Impact of Gaming Industry Layoffs in 2025: Causes and Consequences.

Totilo’s full Game File dossier offers deeper context on Ubisoft’s evolving strategy, annual report findings, and more — you can read the full breakdown on Game File.

📎 Original Source: Game File by Stephen Totilo – “Ubisoft chief confronted in-person with questions about ‘woke’ content and ‘stop killing games’”

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