Stronger European currency has caused French publisher Ubisoft to view Europe's market as more important than that of the US, CEO Yves Guillemot has revealed.

"Turnover in Europe is actually more important than the US now, and by more than 5%," Guillemot told GamesIndustry.biz, owing the shift to the strength of the pound and euro. "It's become a very strong market for us."

Echoing Nintendo's mission statement with its Wii and DS hardware, the Ubisoft executive expressed his belief that games such as Guitar Hero, Rock Band and Ubisoft Shanghai's upcoming voice-controlled RTS effort EndWar (PS3, 360) are increasing the popularity and appeal of games by making them more accessible.

"A game like EndWar, for example, which you can control by voice--it's totally changing the industry because it gives you the opportunity to command what's happening, and to have a quick answer to the orders you give," he explained. "I think this market has no limit in the growth it can have if we can make sure that the people that are coming in are staying."

With Ubisoft Montreal's open-world shooter Far Cry 2 due on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this fall, narrative designer Patrick Redding has confirmed that a third Far Cry game is in the "preliminary stages" and will likely share the sequel's African setting.

"For us Africa still has a huge amount of promise," Redding told videogaming247. "Let's face it, jungle islands are probably less exciting as they were four years ago."

The original Far Cry, developed by Crytek and released for PC in 2004, took place on a tropical island. A scaled-down re-imagining was later brought to Xbox 360, Xbox and Wii by Ubisoft Montreal.

"There are still things we want to do with the African setting, and I think it's safe to say we'll continue to explore it," Redding explained. "That said, we might find something new and compelling about the Antarctic setting that wants us to make the next game there, but honestly, we'e still at the preliminary stages."

Ubisoft today announced it is working on a sequel in the ANNO series, with ANNO 1404 scheduled for a March 2009 release on PC.

Previous entries in the strategy game series including ANNO 1503, 1602 and 1701, all published in North American regions as A.D. games. Development will again be handled by what was formerly known as Sunflowers, now a Ubisoft studio. Set in the Orient, ANNO 1401 will feature a new interface, bigger islands and worlds to explore, a modifiable sandbox mode and other features new to the ANNO series.

GameSpot reports that Ubisoft has filed a lawsuit against Optical Experts Manufacturing, a disc replication firm based out of Charlotte, NC.

Optical Experts Manufacturing had been contracted to manufacture game discs for the PC version of Assassin's Creed, which was released this past April. According to Ubisoft, "an extraordinary breach of trust and gross negligence" led to one of the employees leaving the plant with a copy of the game some six weeks before the retail date.

In taking the contract, OEM had to agree to security procedures that would've prevented such a leak. One of these procedures, Ubisoft alleges, is that no copy would ever leave OEM's premises.

NPD indicates that the PC version of Assassin's Creed sold only some 40,000 copies through June, nothing ... Read more

A sequel to Ubisoft's first-person sword and gunplay title Red Steel will make use of Nintendo's Wii MotionPlus peripheral, a device which drastically increases the motion sensitivity of the Wii Remote.

The peripheral was first demonstrated at Nintendo's E3 2008 press conference along with Wii Sports Resort, the only announced title to make use of the device at that time. The game and Wii MotionPlus will be sold together as a bundle in the spring of 2009.

"Red Steel [is] the typical product that will appreciate the new device," Ubisoft executive director Alain Corre told GamesIndustry.biz. "Red Steel 2 has been in development for many months now, and this new device will help us be even more precise in what we do with the product."

Developed by Ubisoft Paris, Red Steel originally shipped for the Wii alongside the console's debut in late 2006. Despite overwhelming hype for the shooter's gunplay and sword-based combat elements, the title was widely panned for its poor... Read more

Ubisoft's Games For Everyone casual gaming brands led a 33% sales growth in the company's 2008 fiscal year first quarter, the company revealed in its quarterly report.

Sales for the first quarter amounted to €169 million ($263.6M), up 33% over Ubisoft's first quarter 2007 sales of €134 million ($209M).

The publisher added that its Games For Everyone brands—which include Imagine Babyz (DS), the Petz and MyCoach series, and many others—represented around 33% of Q1 sales, or roughly $86 million at current exchange rates.

Free Radical's Haze (PS3) and the PC edition of Ubisoft's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (PC, PS3, 360) were also cited as contributors to Ubisoft's Q1 sales boost.

The company further noted that it intends to release more casual games for the Nintendo DS and Wii in its second quarter, and slightly raised its full-year sales guidance following strong Q1 performance and favorable market conditions.

Publisher Ubisoft has revealed that it plans to localize From Software's mech-building action sequel Armored Core: For Answer (PS3, 360) in North America and Europe in its second quarter software lineup. Left, Ubisoft's Q2 Release Schedule. Right, Armored Core: For Answer.

The news comes from a listing found in Ubisoft's first quarter financial report, in which the title is listed among games slated to release in the company's second quarter running from July 1 to September 31. The title was originally released in Japan in late March of this year.

As the 13th title in From Software's long-running Armored Core series, For Answer incorporates Arms Forts, huge mobile fortresses delivering epic, Shadow of the Colossus-like battles. As always, For Answer also adds the standard-issue selection of new parts and upgrade materials for the game's mechs.

Ubisoft has not yet made an official announcement concerning the game, nor was a specific release date immediately available.

I Am Alive, the next title from celebrated Assassin's Creed producer Jade Raymond, was formally announced at an Ubisoft press event today.

Described as an "edgy new survival-adventure," the title is due out on current generation systems--likely PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360--next spring. No developer was named in today's announcement, though it had previously been rumored that Cold Fear veterans Darkworks were handling the game.

"When Chicago is left in ruins and the cause of the devastation is unknown, players will be challenged to think, react and take risks that will directly affect themselves and those around them," wrote publisher Ubisoft. Shackvideo users can use the HD Stream.

Video game publisher Ubisoft today announced its acquisition of Hybride Technologies, the studio behind the stylish visual effects of the 300 and Sin City films.

Under Ubisoft, Hybride will continue its work with film while "bringing its expertise to leverage Ubisoft's intellectual properties for the movie industry." The two will also work together in developing tools for video game and visual effects production, with a goal of cinema-quality game visuals.

Video game properties held by Ubisoft include the medieval murder simulator Assassin's Creed, the military-themed Tom Clancy brand, the Far Cry open-world shooting franchise, and the story-driven Beyond Good & Evil adventure games along with the Rayman platforming series and its mini-game-driven Raving Rabbids offshoot.

Last year, Ubisoft opened a studio dedicated to the production of... Read more

Ubisoft and Mac developer TransGaming have partnered to release Ubisoft-published games on Mac, the two companies have announced.

Initial offerings will include ports of Ubisoft's pet simulators Catz and Dogz, along with Telltale's CSI-themed adventure effort Hard Evidence. Other titles were not disclosed, though some Ubisoft PC games due out this fall would hit Mac simultaneously.

Ubisoft PC titles due this fall include the open-world shooter Far Cry 2 and the air combat effort Tom Clancy's HAWX.

Specializing in PC-to-Mac ports through its Cider technology, TransGaming works with multiple developers. Recent and upcoming Mac efforts handled by the company include CCP's space MMO EVE Online and EA Maxis' evolution simulator Spore.

Ubisoft has officially revealed Prince of Persia: The Fallen King, the previously announced Nintendo DS edition of its platformer series reboot.

Taking a cue from its PC and console counterparts, The Fallen King features an art style similar to the illustrative look employed in the upcoming console titles, and utilizes stylus controls to bring the familiar acrobatic combat action to the handheld.

As part of a story closely tied to the upcoming console titles, The Fallen King introduces a second playable character called the Magus. Players can switch between the two characters to utilize their unique abilities and progress through the various stages in the game.

As with the new Prince of Persia's PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 incarnations, The Fallen King is scheduled to arrive at retailers this holiday season.

Publisher Ubisoft has announced a new Wii-exclusive division called Play Zone, a brand dedicated to creating new party games and mini-game compilation titles. The company revealed the first Play Zone-branded title as Sports Party, due out next month.

"With our new Play Zone party titles, the Wii gamers who like to spend time with friends and family will have fun with the Wii through innovative and involving mini-games," said Ubisoft EMEA marketing director John Parkes. "The Play Zone label will provide them with the best games to mingle and compete together in a fun and friendly atmosphere."

Developed by Destineer, Sports Party includes nine games that can be played competitively or cooperatively using the Wii Remote's gesture-based controls. The roster of activities includes croquet, lawn darts, mini-golf and several others.

Several analysts have suggested that publisher Ubisoft may be a possible suitor for Take-Two as the company fields buyout and merger proposals.

According to a Forbes report, Take-Two chairman Strauss Zelnick said in a quarterly earnings call last week that the company "had and continues to have formal discussions with interested parties," but did not specify further who the parties might be.

The report points to Ubisoft as a possible candidate, noting that the Prince of Persia publisher's rapid growth and expansion to mediums beyond gaming make it a good fit for Take-Two's properties, which include Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto series and 2K Games' BioShock.

"Ubisoft has shown they do a good job of managing original intellectual property," said Cowen and Co. analyst Doug Creutz. "Culturally, Take-Two developers ... Read more

On the heels of Capcom's franchise sales outing, Ubisoft has followed suit by releasing a list of its best-selling properties, allowing for an interesting peek into the publishing giant's records.

Official Ubisoft mascot Rayman tops the list with an impressive 22 million units sold, according to GamesIndustry.biz. Created by designer Michel Ancel in 1995, the original Rayman platformer sold over 10 million copies on PlayStation. The yellow-haired character has since gone on to star in over a dozen games.

Unsurprisingly, Tom Clancy IP dominates the chart, with the Rainbow Six, Splinter Cell and Ghost Recon titles accounting for a combined 55 million units sold.

Assassin's Creed rings in at an impressive 6 million sold, while the Petz franchise accounts for a staggering 13 million units. Check out the full list below.

1. Rayman: 22 million units sold

2. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: 20 million units sold

3. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: 19 million units sold... Read more

Ubisoft today announced the development of Beyond Good and Evil 2, and debuted a trailer for the title at its UbiDays 2008 event in Paris today. The company also released a teaser trailer and a trio of screenshots.

The title, a sequel to Ubisoft Montpellier's 2003 sleeper hit, is will be helmed by series creator Michel Ancel. The original Beyond Good and Evil featured Zelda-like action adventure gameplay realized in a unique and complicated world, a lighthearted plot with heavy themes and a great sense of humor.

Though the game was released to critical acclaim, BG&E's sales suffered against several other high-profile Ubisoft releases of the day such as Prince of Persia: Sands of Time and Splinter Cell.

No release date has yet been announced by the publisher. Registered users can use the HD Stream

New gameplay and plot details for the recently announced new entry in Ubisoft's Prince of Persia series were unveiled in the latest issue of French magazine Joypad.

The game is said to create a more fantasy-like game and to bring a poetic vision to the series over the previous Sands of Time trilogy, with which the new title shares no direct connection. The title's cel-shaded visual styling and revamped gameplay scheme were adjusted according to this presentational revision.

"The previous trilogy mixed the Arabian Nights in with historical Persia," said creative director Jean-Christophe Guyot in a Eurogamer translation. "We decided we'd prefer to return to the tales of the Thousand and One Nights for something more colourful."

Guyot added that the game is "Zelda-esque, old school, with very contrasting levels," set against the plot of a cursed land that must be healed by defeating boss guardians. Much like Okami, defeating the bosses will transform the world in... Read more

Publisher Ubisoft today announced that it has opened a new internal development studio in Kiev, Ukraine, marking the company's third Eastern Europe studio.

The new Kiev studio will collaborate directly with Ubisoft's Bucharest, Romania studio on the PC version of Tom Clancy's HAWX (PC, PS3, X360).

"Having seen the potential demonstrated by the Sofia studio's first projects, it was only natural for us to pursue our expansion in [Eastern Europe] and attract a new pool of highly-skilled talents to the group," said Ubisoft worldwide studios director Christine Burgess-Quemard.

Following a 36% year-over-year sales increase in its 2007 fiscal year, Ubisoft announced that it would expand its worldwide workforce by over 900 workers in FY2008. The company plans to expand operations Singapore, India, and China, in addition to currently established development houses.

The next entry in the Prince of Persia franchise will arrive on PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS this holiday season, publisher Ubisoft has revealed.

According to the company, the title "is poised to rejuvenate the action-adventure genre in addition to introducing a brand-new illustrative art style."

It is being developed at Ubisoft Montreal, which was responsible for Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (PC, PS2, Xbox, GCN, GBA) as well as the more recent Assassin's Creed (PC, PS3, X360, NDS).

Though series creator Jordan Mechner recently filed a trademark for "Prince of Persia Prodigy," no specific title was listed in today's announcement.

Ubisoft had previously mentioned the existence of a new Prince of Persia game in its financial documents, though nothing beyond a vague release timeframe was provided at that time.

Publisher Ubisoft plans to expand its workforce by over 900 employees by the end of March of next year, Next-Gen reports.

Executives at the company said in a quarterly conference call today that its workforce would be expanded considerably in Singapore, India, and China, in addition to currently established development houses.

"Five hundred will go to the new studios, but there will also be 400 coming into the established studios," said CEO Yves Guillemot.

The company noted that as of March 31, Ubisoft employed about 3,600 employees among its 18 studios in 13 different countries.

Ubisoft Montreal's Assassin's Creed (PC, PS3, X360) spearheaded a 36% boost in 2008 sales over last year, the company announced today.

Ubisoft's full-year sales for its 2007-2008 fiscal year totaled EUR 928M, or roughly $1.45B at current exchange rates, a 36.4% increase over last year's figure of EUR 680M / $1.02B. Fourth quarter sales were up 10%, clocking in at EUR 217M / $340.5M.

The company cited the performance of Ubisoft Montreal's Assassin's Creed for the boost in numbers, which it said sold over six million copies since launch. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (PC, PS3, X360) also added to Ubisoft's burgeoning moneypile, recording nearly two million units sold since it hit shelves in March.