14 DAY TRIAL // Large French games publisher Ubisoft has just confirmed that it wants to launch Kinect versions of all of its franchises, including the likes of Assassin's Creed, Splinter Cell or Prince of Persia.
Ubisoft is rapidly becoming one of the biggest games publishers in the world, thanks to its rich and varied franchise portfolio, ranging from casual hits like Imagine or Petz to hardcore releases like Assassin's Creed or Splinter Cell.
With the advent of the Kinect motion sensor for the Xbox 360, the company quickly seized the growth opportunity and launched quite a few titles, including Your Shape: Fitness Evolved, Fighters Uncaged or Motion Sports.
The risk was worth it, with Ubisoft claiming that it is the number one third party games publisher for the Kinect last month.
The company is now keen on expanding its offer for the Xbox 360 peripheral, and revealed that it was exploring Kinect versions for all of its franchises.
“We will be bringing some of the industry’s most innovative offerings to Kinect soon,” Chief Marketing and Sales Officer Geoffroy Sardin told MCV.
This doesn't mean Assassin's Creed or Splinter Cell Kinect are confirmed, as Ubisoft will let its internal development studios decide if they want to build something for the device.
“I think we can propose Kinect versions of all the brands that we’ve got, but it is down to the production team. I can’t announce anything, but we will have something for everyone, that I can assure you.”
Ubisoft's upcoming Kinect games include Michael Jackson: The Experience, which hopes to build on the success that the title had on the Wii, and a spiritual successor to the classic Rez, called Child of Eden.
While Ubisoft's hardcore franchises are quite popular with gamers, Ubisoft's casual efforts are even better and more profitable, so don't be too surprised if we're going to see Kinect support tied to the company's more serious franchises.