According to GameSpot, Ubisoft has abruptly postponed its first-half fiscal year 2025-26 earnings report that was scheduled for November 14, 2025. The company formally requested Euronext to halt trading of its shares (FR0000054470) and three separate bonds from market opening until results publication “in the coming days.” Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad suggested this move indicates “a major announcement” about the company could be imminent. CFO Frederick Duguet told staff in an internal email that the delay was to finalize closing and “limit unnecessary speculation.” This comes as Ubisoft’s revenue continues declining despite Assassin’s Creed Shadows hitting 5 million players, and follows creative lead Marc-Alexis Côté’s October departure after two decades.
Trading halt significance
Here’s the thing – companies don’t halt trading lightly. When you see a public company voluntarily stop stock trading right before earnings, something big is usually happening. Either they’re about to announce a major acquisition, a significant restructuring, or potentially even a sale of the company. The fact that Ubisoft is halting bond trading too suggests this isn’t just about stock price manipulation – it’s about fundamental corporate changes that could affect their entire capital structure.
Timing context
Look, Ubisoft hasn’t been having the greatest run lately. Their revenue has been on a downward trajectory despite some successful game launches. They recently canceled a Civil War-inspired Assassin’s Creed game after backlash about Shadows’ co-protagonist Yasuke. And losing a creative lead who’s been with the company for twenty years? That’s not nothing. So when the CFO says they need to “limit unnecessary speculation,” you have to wonder what’s so big that it requires stopping all market activity.
What could be coming
Basically, we’re looking at a few possibilities here. It could be a major acquisition – maybe someone’s buying Ubisoft, or Ubisoft is making a big purchase. It could be a massive restructuring announcement, potentially involving layoffs or studio closures. Or it could be something completely unexpected that requires them to completely rethink their financial reporting. The official postponement notice is unusually vague, which makes me think this isn’t just about cleaning up accounting.
Broader implications
And let’s be real – the gaming industry has been consolidating like crazy. If this is about Ubisoft being acquired, it would be one of the biggest gaming deals in history. But even if it’s just internal restructuring, the fact that they felt the need to halt trading suggests whatever’s coming will significantly impact their valuation. When companies need this level of market protection before an announcement, they’re usually preparing shareholders for substantial changes. We’ll know in “the coming days” – but until then, the speculation will definitely not be “limited” despite the CFO’s hopes.
