Ubisoft, the studio behind Assassin’s Creed and Star Wars Outlaws, has responded to recent buyout rumors, confirming that it “regularly reviews all its strategic options in the interest of its stakeholders.” This acknowledgment follows reports last week suggesting that Ubisoft and Chinese tech giant Tencent were in talks regarding a potential buyout to stabilize the French company’s market value.

According to reports, one option under consideration is taking Ubisoft private through a partnership with Tencent. However, these discussions are said to be in the early stages, and no definitive decisions have been made. Ubisoft shared a statement with Eurogamer addressing the speculation: “Ubisoft has noted recent press speculation regarding potential interests around the Company. It regularly reviews all its strategic options in the interest of its stakeholders and will inform the market if and when appropriate.”

The company also emphasized that its current focus remains on executing its strategy, which is centered around two key pillars: open-world adventures and Games as a Service (GaaS) experiences.

In September, Ubisoft’s stock dropped following the announcement that the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows had been postponed to February 14, 2025, from its originally planned November 2024 release. This delay came after Star Wars Outlaws experienced slower-than-expected sales, managing to surpass just 1 million units since its August 30 launch.

These challenges have raised concerns among investors. Notably, Juraj Krupa of Slovakian hedge fund AJ Investments and Partners penned an open letter to Ubisoft, expressing “deep dissatisfaction” with the company’s direction. Krupa urged the Ubisoft board to consider taking the company private, citing “mismanagement” by the Guillemot family and Tencent as reasons for the company’s undervaluation, despite its strong potential.