Global monopoly of technology

Chris couldn't help feeling anxious when he heard that, but he didn't show it, but calmly asked: "Mr. Yao, what solution does your company have that can satisfy both parties?"

At this moment, Yao Jianhong was also thinking about this matter in his heart.

People from Ubisoft took the initiative to talk, which shows that the initiative is in the hands of the Blue Coast. In business, Yao Jianhong is a person who is struggling for profit, and he will never let it go if he can fight for a penny of profit.

The ACC console is now obviously going to be a big fire. It is only a matter of time before the Côte d’Azur becomes the world’s top first party. The significance of this is completely different. If Ubisoft takes the initiative to talk about this before the console is released. , Yao Jianhong will graciously agree without hesitation.

But now it's different, offense and defense change.

Chris also waited patiently for the reply from the other party.

At this moment, Yao Jianhong suddenly made a bolder decision, one that may be very likely to make Microsoft's interactive entertainment department soft, and actively present the "Halo" series on the ACC platform.

In the end, Yao Jianhong finished his thoughts, and then commented on Chris, and said with a smile: "In this way, I have a plan here. Ubisoft must be deeply tied to ACC for co-prosperity and coexistence. All console games under your company must be owned by ACC. The platform is exclusive, and as a condition, from the date of signing the contract to the next two years, all games released by your company will be subsidized at a rate of 50% of the retail price from the date of sale."

On the one hand, the Côte d’Azur is not bad for this amount of money. Last year’s annual sales were close to the US$100 billion mark. Even if Ubisoft was dead within two years, its games would explode with subsidies of up to US$2.3 billion.

But if you want to get the treatment of companies like R Star and CDPR, it is impossible. The Côte d'Azur is rich now, but it is not windy.

If it wasn't for taking the opportunity to crack down on the platforms of competitors such as Microsoft, Yao Jianhong would not agree at all, and there would be no subsidy, because he was sure that Ubisoft would wait for the sales of ACC consoles to pass the 30 to 40 million mark even if there was no subsidy Will definitely rely on licking.

No, it's already here.

It's all like this, why do you need to subsidize?If you have too much money, you can't give it to me like this, right?You can't open this kind of bad head casually, and people's desires will never be satisfied.

Chris was taken aback for a moment, and said: "This...Mr. Yao..."

Yao Jianhong immediately raised his hand and interrupted the other party's words: "No bargaining, this is my bottom line."

Chris: "..."

After regaining his senses, Chris said, "I'm sorry, I'll go to the bathroom first, and let me miss you for a while."

Yao Jianhong smiled and nodded and said: "It's okay, turn left when you go out and go straight and turn left."

This operation is obviously to go to the bathroom and call the Ubisoft headquarters. This is indeed a decision that Chris can't make.

...

"What? Are you sure?... OK, I see, wait for my message in half an hour."

Ubisoft President Ivers Gilliam was woken up by Chris in the middle of the night, but soon ended the communication, and then all the company's executives were woken up for an emergency conference call.

"This is how things are, what do you think?"

"It's crazy, this is undoubtedly taking the life of the family out and completely tied to the chariot on the blue coast."

"From another perspective, imagine that the third parties acquired by Luo Sheng are more moisturized than the other. Although it is bold and high-risk, the benefits are also attractive."

“It’s too hasty to make a decision so quickly. It must be voted by the board of directors and judged carefully.”

"agree."

...

Soon after the conference call ended, Ivers Gilliam again contacted Chris, who was negotiating with the Côte d'Azur ahead, to inform him of the headquarters' decision.

Yao Jianhong waited in his office for ten minutes. Chris returned here and said with an apologetic expression: "I'm sorry, Mr. Yao, this matter is a big deal for Ubisoft, and the headquarters has not considered it thoroughly. The board needs time to consider."

Yao Jianhong nodded cheerfully: "No problem."

Chris Erli took the initiative to shook hands with him courteously, talked a few words before leaving, but he did not leave Sioux City.

...

Three days later, Chris met Yao Jianhong again, this time in the reception room.

"Mr. Yao, we agreed." Chris said straightforwardly.

These words actually made Yao Jianhong stunned for a while, but it was only less than two seconds, and without any muddle, he said with a smile: "Then sign the contract."

But at this time, Chris added: "But we need an additional condition."

Yao Jianhong said calmly: "I would like to hear the details."

Chris: "The board of directors hopes to raise a financing based on Ubisoft. The current market value transfer of 11% of the shares will be taken over by your company, but your company must not interfere with Ubisoft's daily operation and management."

Obviously, Ubisoft is a non-stop rhythm, determined to completely embrace Luo Sheng's thick legs.

Previously, Luo Sheng made a financial investment of US$1.8 billion in Ubisoft in the name of Bluestar Technology last year, thus avoiding a hostile takeover by Vivendi. The so-called financial investment means not interfering in the company’s operations and not assigning directors. Assigned financial auditors.

If the Côte d’Azur takes over 11% of the equity, it means that Luo Shengjian has become Ubisoft’s largest shareholder.

Yao Jianhong thought for a while and nodded very simply: "According to the current market value, that is, the financing is 1.375 billion US dollars. Okay, no problem. The Blue Coast will take it and it will be in the form of financial investment."

For the Côte d’Azur, this investment is a small amount of money, and Ubisoft, as one of the top ten third-party game developers in the world today, is not losing money from the perspective of investment alone. Moreover, Ubisoft’s games are also very rich. , This is of great help to the creation of the ACC host ecosystem.

Chris was very energetic. Now he just wants to sign the contract as soon as possible. The request for the Côte d’Azur investment was proposed by President Ivers Gilliam to the Ubisoft board of directors. His reason is that with this money, Ubisoft can have Sufficient funds will successively release a number of masterpieces and even develop new ones in the next two years.

You know, the cooperation with the Côte d’Azur in the past two years is a prime time. During this period of time, every game sold will receive 50% of the subsidy from the Côte d’Azur company. Isn’t it necessary to launch a work?

This time I want to make multiple lines and make as much money as possible in the past two years. It takes a huge development budget to launch multiple masterpieces at the same time. A level 3A masterpiece requires a development budget of hundreds of millions of dollars, which Ubisoft does not have. With such a full capital chain, the 1.8 billion US dollars invested by Luo Sheng Finance at the end of last year was used to fight against Vivendi's malicious mergers and acquisitions. There is not much money in the family. The funds invested in the new game "Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" and other games have not been returned.

After an hour and a half, the contract was signed, very quickly. After seeing the signature, Chris satisfactorily handed the contract to the accompanying assistant to collect it.

"Happy cooperation!"

"Happy cooperation!"

The two parties shook hands again, and Chris didn't stop, and after a few words of courtesy, he took someone to leave.

Just after coming out of the Star City headquarters, Chris called Ivers Gilliam to report the situation here.

This trip can be regarded as a successful conclusion.

On the second day, Ubisoft’s then President Ivers Gilliam personally hosted a media conference. The major news announced to the industry caused a sensation in the global game industry at the beginning of the new year. Other veteran first-party manufacturers have felt a huge crisis, because they found that the Côte d’Azur is not a wine.

...