Ubisoft, Rockstar, and Sinners

🕊️ Trump Tells Putin “War Has to End” After Zelenskiy Meeting — U.S. President Donald Trump is urging for an end to the war in Ukraine, following what he described as a “good meeting” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Trump said the talks focused on paths to peace and security guarantees, signaling renewed diplomatic engagement as pressure mounts for negotiations to end the prolonged conflict.

💥 Explosion at Rockstar North’s GTA 6 Studio Shocks Edinburgh — Emergency crews responded early Monday morning to an explosion at the Edinburgh offices of Rockstar North, the primary development studio behind the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6. Firefighters were dispatched after reports of a blast in the building’s boiler room, securing structural damage while ensuring no injuries were reported and the scene was cleared by mid-morning. Yeah, we’re all thinking it: GTA 6 is definitely getting delayed again.

🌍 TikTok U.S. Deal Closes— TikTok has finalized a deal that keeps the app running in the US, avoiding a ban by moving its American operations and user data into a new US‑led joint venture backed by Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi’s MGX, which will control data, infrastructure, and key oversight to satisfy Washington’s national security concerns.

Shares in Ubisoft plunged as much as 35% on Thursday, the company's worst single-day drop ever, after the French gaming powerhouse announced a sweeping "major company reset" that left investors cold. Once a leader in open world games, Ubisoft's stock has cratered 95% from its 2018 peak, hitting a 14-year low below €5, as years of delays and flops erode faith in leadership.

Major Cuts and Refocus
CEO Yves Guillemot outlined a back to basics overhaul, splitting operations into five genre-specific "Creative Houses" like Vantage Studios (Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, Rainbow Six) to prioritize hits and hit quality bars.

This means canceling six games, including the long-delayed Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake over quality shortfalls, as well as a mobile title and four unannounced projects, while delaying seven others (one rumored Black Flag remake). Studios in Halifax and Stockholm shuttered, with restructurings in Abu Dhabi, Helsinki, and Malmö, as part of €200 million more in cost cuts over two years.

Mounting Financial Pressure
The reset triggers a €650 million writedown, slashing FY2026 net bookings to €1.5 billion (down €330 million) and projecting a €1 billion operating loss. Failed hits like Star Wars Outlaws and Skull & Bones exemplify the pipeline woes, alongside rising AAA expenses.

Takeover Buzz Grows
With market cap dipping to ~€600 million, speculation ramps up on buyouts, especially after Tencent's ~25% stake in Vantage Studios via a €1B+ deal.

Ubisoft eyes asset sales but continues to cling to Guillemot family control. Regardless of what happens, it’s hard to see Ubisoft coming out of all this on top.

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INVEST TODAY

• Tech creator Xiaoning XNZ has unveiled the “Ningtendo PXBOX 5,” a custom all-in-one console that houses the internal components of a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 within a single triangular chassis. Inspired by Apple’s 2013 Mac Pro, the digital only build utilizes a shared 250W power supply and a custom cast aluminum heatsink to allow for seamless switching between platforms in under five seconds via an Arduino-based controller. This might not be intended for sale but man it’s fascinating what some people can do.
• Ryan Coogler’s vampire epic Sinners made history Thursday as the most nominated film ever at the Academy Awards, earning 16 nominations for the 98th Oscars. The tally surpasses the previous record of 14 held by All About Eve, Titanic and La La Land, and includes nods for Best Picture, Best Director (Coogler), and Best Actor (Michael B. Jordan) among many others.How many will it actually win? I guess we will have to wait and see.
• The first trailer for the live-action reboot is out, offering fans their first look at Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam/He-Man. Directed by Travis Knight, the film follows Adam as he embraces his destiny to defend Eternia from Skeletor, played by Jared Leto. I for one am very excited for a modern day release of this classic.

This week’s book review is a familiar one. The Alchemist was the very first book I ever recommended in this newsletter, and it’s now the first I’m recommending for a second time, more than a year later, after re-reading it again.

Paulo Coelho’s masterpiece is deceptively simple: a shepherd follows a recurring dream, meets mentors and detours along the way, and learns that the real point isn’t just the destination.

Re-reading it, I was reminded why it resonated the first time. You notice different things every time you read it. If you’ve been busy, distracted, or playing it safe, The Alchemist is a short read that can nudge you back toward your true purpose. Pick this up, seriously, you won't regret it.

⭐ 4.85 / 5.0 in my book (no pun intended)

1. “Laugh and the world laughs with you. Weep and you weep alone.”
2. “I don't want to survive. I want to live!"
3. "I don't want to be a pie. I don't like gravy.”

The frigatebird can nap mid-air by shutting down half its brain. It’s like airplanes that get re-fueled mid-air…kind of? Regardless of my horrible comparison, pretty cool.

1. Oldboy 2003 (Dae-su Oh)
2. Wall E 2008 (Captain B. McCrea)
3. Chicken Run 2000 (Babs)