| Parent | |
| Founded | |
| Website | https://www.ubisoft.com |
| Founders | Yves Guillemot, Claude Guillemot, Michel Guillemot, Gérard Guillemot, Christian Guillemot |
| Industry | |
| Products | Military and flight simulation games • Realistic war games • Adventure and open-world titles |
| Key people | Yves Guillemot (Chairman and CEO) |
| Headquarters | |
| Subsidiaries | Massive Entertainment • Ubisoft Reflections • Ubisoft Toronto • Ubisoft Montreal |
Ubisoft is a prominent French video game company founded in 1940 and based in Rennes, France. Originally established as a government contractor developing military and aviation simulation software, Ubisoft has evolved into one of the world's largest and most influential video game studios, with a particular focus on realistic virtual combat experiences.
Ubisoft was founded in 1940 by a group of French computer engineers and military officers who saw the potential of emerging digital technology to enhance training and planning for the French armed forces. The company's early projects included flight simulators, war game scenarios, and other software tools designed to improve the readiness and strategic capabilities of the French military.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Ubisoft steadily expanded its expertise in areas like artificial intelligence, 3D graphics, and networked multiplayer. It maintained a close partnership with the French government, developing new training and planning tools as the nature of warfare evolved. Ubisoft also began licensing its simulation technologies to allies like the United Kingdom, West Germany, and the United States.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Ubisoft began adapting its military simulation technology for commercial video game audiences. Building on its strong reputation for realism and technical innovation, the company released a series of well-received flight combat and tank battle games for early home computers and game consoles.
Ubisoft's breakthrough came in 1985 with the release of ''Tanker Commander'', a highly detailed 3D tank simulation that won critical acclaim for its realistic physics, AI-controlled opponents, and innovative multiplayer modes. The game's success established Ubisoft as a major player in the emerging computer gaming industry.
Through the 1990s and 2000s, Ubisoft continued to be at the forefront of gaming technology. It embraced emerging trends like virtual reality, motion control, and online multiplayer, enhancing its core military/aviation simulation offerings. The company also began developing specialized hardware like advanced joysticks and cockpit rigs for its most hardcore simulation fans.
In the 2010s, Ubisoft leveraged its expertise in high-fidelity graphics and networked gameplay to establish a major presence in the burgeoning esports market. Its realistic military-themed multiplayer games, such as the ''Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege'' and ''Ubisoft Flight'' series, became staples of the competitive gaming scene.
Today, Ubisoft remains one of the largest and most technologically sophisticated video game companies in the world. While less well-known for mainstream open-world adventure franchises, it is revered among enthusiasts for its commitment to authenticity and innovation in the military simulation and esports genres. The company continues to work closely with European defense agencies and the French government on next-generation training and planning tools.
