Editing Ubisoft (section)

=== Continued expansion (2003–2015) ===
[[File:Ubisoft logo evolution.png|thumb|right|upright=3.0|The evolution of the Ubisoft logo. The initial logo was created on the company's founding in 1986. With the publication of ''Rayman'', the company used the rainbow shape to show their shift from distributor to a publisher in 1995. The blue "swirl" was introduced in 2003 with the rebranding from "Ubi Soft" to "Ubisoft", alongside their acquisition of the ''Tom Clancy'' licence. Another swirl was introduced in 2017, designed to appear as windows into their game worlds while retaining a ''grain de folie'' (touch of madness). This excludes the two logos following the 1986 logo and before the 1995 logo.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.ubi.com/en-GB/say-hello-new-ubisoft-swirl/ |title=Say Hello to the new Ubisoft swirl |work=UbiBlog UK - Ubisoft® |date=31 May 2017 |access-date=5 March 2019 |publisher=Ubisoft |archive-date=6 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306111454/http://blog.ubi.com/en-GB/say-hello-new-ubisoft-swirl/ |url-status=live}}</ref>]]

On 9 September 2003, Ubi Soft announced that it would change its name to Ubisoft, and introduced a new logo known as "the swirl".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news090903ubisoftlogo |title=Ubisoft unveils new logo |first=Tom |last=Bramwell |date=9 September 2003 |website=eurogamer.net |access-date=18 July 2018 |archive-date=3 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603161009/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news090903ubisoftlogo |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/ubisoft-unveils-new-visual-identity |title=Ubisoft unveils new "visual identity" |first=Rob |last=Fahey |date=9 September 2003 |website=gamesindustry.biz |access-date=18 July 2018 |archive-date=8 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708133742/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/ubisoft-unveils-new-visual-identity |url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2004, gaming corporation [[Electronic Arts]] purchased a 19.9% stake in the firm. Ubisoft referred to the purchase as "hostile" on EA's part.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/electronic-arts-buys-stake-in-ubisoft-in-hostile-act/1100-6115370/ |title=Electronic Arts buys stake in Ubisoft in "hostile" act |last=Feldman |first=Curt |date=20 December 2004 |website=[[GameSpot]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=21 April 2016 |archive-date=17 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117102704/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/electronic-arts-buys-stake-in-ubisoft-in-hostile-act/1100-6115370/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Ubisoft's brothers recognised they had not considered themselves within a competitive market, and employees had feared that an EA takeover would drastically alter the environment within Ubisoft. EA's CEO at the time, [[John Riccitiello]], assured Ubisoft the purchase was not meant as a hostile manoeuvre, and EA ended up selling the shares in 2010.<ref name="gi oral" />

In February 2005, Ubisoft acquired the ''[[NHL Rivals 2004|NHL Rivals]]'', ''[[NFL Fever]]'', ''[[NBA Inside Drive]]'' and ''MLB Inside Pitch'' franchises from [[Microsoft Game Studios]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB110961895299666120 |title=Ubisoft Buys Microsoft Sports Games |website=Wall Street Journal |date=28 February 2005 |access-date=22 September 2021 |archive-date=30 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930161016/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB110961895299666120 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Ubisoft established another IP, ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'', first launched in 2007; ''Assassin's Creed'' was originally developed by Ubisoft Montreal as a sequel to ''Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time'' and instead transitioned to a story about [[Order of Assassins|Assassins]] and the [[Templar Knights]].<ref name="gi oral" /> In July 2006, Ubisoft bought the ''[[Driver (series)|Driver]]'' franchise from [[Atari, Inc. (1993–present)|Atari]] for a sum of €19 million in cash for the franchise, technology rights, and most assets. Within 2008, Ubisoft made a deal with Tom Clancy for perpetual use of his name and intellectual property for video games and other auxiliary media.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2008/03/ubisoft-picks-u/ |title=Ubisoft Buys Perpetual Gaming Rights To 'Clancy' Name |first=Earnest |last=Cavalli |date=20 March 2003 |accessdate=18 July 2021 |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |archive-date=10 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510121752/https://www.wired.com/2008/03/ubisoft-picks-u/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2008, Ubisoft made the acquisition of [[Hybride Technologies]], a [[Piedmont, Quebec|Piedmont]]-based studio. In November 2008, Ubisoft acquired [[Massive Entertainment]] from [[Activision]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.develop-online.net/press-releases/ubisoft-reg-acquires-the-assets-of-massive-entertainment-reg/0128916 |title=Ubisoft® acquires the Assets of Massive Entertainment® |last=Lawton |first=Adrian |date=10 November 2008 |website=[[Develop (UK magazine)|Develop]] |access-date=21 April 2016 |archive-date=30 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530102634/http://www.develop-online.net/press-releases/ubisoft-reg-acquires-the-assets-of-massive-entertainment-reg/0128916 |url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2013, Ubisoft acquired ''[[South Park: The Stick of Truth]]'' from [[THQ]] for $3.265&nbsp;million.

Ubisoft announced plans in 2013 to invest $373&nbsp;million into its Quebec operations over 7 years. The publisher is investing in the expansion of its motion capture technologies and consolidating its online games operations and infrastructure in Montreal. By 2020, the company would employ more than 3,500 staff at its studios in Montreal and Quebec City.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.develop-online.net/news/ubisoft-investing-370m-in-quebec-operations/0115959 |title=Ubisoft investing $370m in Quebec operations |last=Chapple |first=Craig |date=30 September 2013 |website=[[Develop (UK magazine)|Develop]] |access-date=21 April 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112425/http://www.develop-online.net/news/ubisoft-investing-370m-in-quebec-operations/0115959 |url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2013, it began offering games from third-party publisher including [[Electronic Arts]] and [[Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment]] on Uplay and its own games to EA's [[Origin (service)|Origin]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sarkar |first=Samit |date=19 February 2013 |title=Ubisoft now selling third-party games on Uplay Shop and its own games on EA's Origin |url=https://www.polygon.com/2013/2/19/4001836/ubisoft-uplay-shop-third-party-games-ea-origin-chris-early-interview |access-date=15 April 2023 |website=Polygon |language=en-US |archive-date=15 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415102048/https://www.polygon.com/2013/2/19/4001836/ubisoft-uplay-shop-third-party-games-ea-origin-chris-early-interview |url-status=live }}</ref>

In July 2013, Ubisoft announced a breach in its network resulting in the potential exposure of up to 58&nbsp;million accounts including usernames, email address, and encrypted passwords. The firm denied any credit/debit card information could have been compromised, issued directives to all registered users to change their account passwords, and recommended updating passwords on any other website or service where a same or similar password had been used.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-23159997 |title=Ubisoft warns millions of video gamers of hack attack |date=3 July 2013 |website=[[BBC News]] |publisher=BBC |access-date=21 April 2016 |archive-date=12 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312100541/http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-23159997 |url-status=live}}</ref> All the users who registered were emailed by the Ubisoft company about the breach and a password change request. Ubisoft promised to keep the information safe.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/07/02/ubisofts-uplay-service-hacked/ |title=Ubisoft Website Hacked |last=Goldfarb |first=Andrew |date=2 July 2013 |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[IGN Entertainment]] |access-date=21 April 2016 |archive-date=7 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507194746/http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/07/02/ubisofts-uplay-service-hacked/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2015, the company set up a Consumer Relationship Centre in [[Newcastle-upon-Tyne]]. The centre is intended to integrate consumer support teams and community managers. Consumer Support and Community Management teams at the CRC are operational 7 days a week.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/news-story/ubisoft-invests-new-consumer-relationship-centre-newcastle |title=Ubisoft invests in new Consumer Relationship Centre in Newcastle |date=13 March 2015 |website=[[Newcastle City Council]] |access-date=21 April 2016 |archive-date=1 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601080521/https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/news-story/ubisoft-invests-new-consumer-relationship-centre-newcastle |url-status=live}}</ref>