Key Takeaways
1. Ubisoft is facing financial challenges, leading to careful scrutiny of their new game decisions, including the development of a battle royale game called Scout.
2. The popularity of battle royale games is declining, with their share of total games played dropping from 19% to 12% between 2021 and 2024, despite Apex Legends still maintaining a presence.
3. Ubisoft’s history of past failures in the battle royale genre, such as Hyper Scape, raises concerns about the success of Scout, especially if it lacks unique features.
4. The competitive esports scene remains strong for battle royale games, attracting large audiences and focusing on future growth rather than immediate profits.
5. There is skepticism among players regarding whether Scout will be a worthwhile addition or just another unsuccessful title for Ubisoft.
With Ubisoft facing financial challenges, every decision the publisher takes is being closely examined. A recent report suggesting that they are backing a new battle royale game has sparked doubts. Insider Gaming has discovered that the game, named Scout, will take inspiration from Apex Legends, featuring characters that look quite similar. According to Tom Henderson’s source, Ubisoft is trying to seize a chance as the player numbers for Apex Legends decline.
Changing Trends in Gaming
A new study by Newzoo has shown that, even though shooter games are still in demand, battle royale titles are losing their popularity. Between 2021 and 2024, the share of these games decreased from 19% to 12% of all games played. Despite this, Apex Legends has managed to stick around while many lesser-known games have faded away. However, it has seen a significant drop from its peak popularity back in 2021. Fortnite remains a notable exception due to its diverse game modes that appeal to a wider audience.
Past Failures and Future Risks
Ubisoft has had its share of unsuccessful games, such as the 2020 urban-themed Hyper Scape. This title was short-lived, lasting less than two years before its servers were shut down. Surprisingly, this experience hasn’t deterred the company from developing a rival to Apex Legends. In fact, there are rumors that Ubisoft considered up to twelve battle royale games that never got off the ground. Creating a clone of Apex Legends without adding unique features to spark renewed interest in the genre raises serious questions.
The Competitive Scene
Despite the challenges, Apex Legends and its rivals continue to thrive in the esports scene. Battle royale games attract large audiences as viewers watch professionals compete for survival. Still, the competitive gaming market is more about investing for future growth rather than immediate profits. The strong sales of Assassin’s Creed Shadows may have granted Ubisoft some breathing room financially. Yet, players remain skeptical about whether Scout will just be another mistake in a long list.
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