Kinda Funny Games Daily – Detailed Summary

Episode: Can Ubisoft Recover From This?
Date: January 22, 2026
Hosts: Roger McCorney & Paris Lily
Special Appearances: Greg Miller (occasional), Barrett, and Super Chat/Listener Comments

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the fallout from Ubisoft’s massive restructuring, plummeting stock, and implication for the future of its beloved IPs. Roger and Paris break down industry news, especially Ubisoft’s fate, the strange story of Beyond Good and Evil 2’s survival, and new gaming sales trends like Battlefield outselling Call of Duty for the first time. The hosts balance thoughtful industry commentary with their trademark banter, also touching on their personal gaming experiences and audience questions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Host Catch-Up & Gaming Lately (00:12–04:00)

• Paris Lily returns to the studio for the first time in a year, happy to reconnect with the Kinda Funny team and enjoy a mini “Xcast reunion.”
  • “Was it worth it? 100%. I mean, we literally had an X cast reunion here. Gary, Mike, Greg…It was awesome, a lot of fun.” (01:23, Paris)
• What are you playing?
  • Paris is “addicted to Hades 2,” with close to 200 hours played and multiple completions: “It’s so, so freaking good…I love that you learn something every run…Supergiant, what they’ve been able to do…fantastic game.” (03:07, Paris)
  • On Hades 2: “It wind up becoming—my game of the year.” (03:27, Paris)
  • Roger tries Cyberpunk on Switch 2: “It looks gorgeous.” (04:01, Roger)
  • Praise for CD Projekt Red making it run well on portable hardware, particularly in “indoor sections.”

2. Main Story – Ubisoft’s Tumultuous Restructuring (07:01–16:23)

Ubisoft Shares Drop 33%, Massive Restructuring

• Background: Ubisoft splits its creative operations into 5 divisions/“Creative Houses,” aiming to “reclaim its creative leadership and drive sharp rebound.”
• Shares drop to their lowest in 14 years:

  “It has now dropped 95.9% compared to that July 2018 high point.” (VGC, ~07:00)

• Restructuring Fallout:
  • Cancelled 6 games (including Prince of Persia remake)
  • Delay for 7 more
  • Operating loss of €1B expected
• Reactions:
  • Paris: "Disappointment…it's just scary times in the industry. When I think of Ubisoft…they just had so many IPs you were excited about…to see this happening now…I hope they can right the ship." (08:03, Paris)
  • The Prince of Persia cancellation is a "huge gut punch."
  • Speculation about how new "Creative Houses" structure could affect IP priorities and what’s missing (Watch Dogs, Star Wars, Avatar not listed).

Ubisoft's Five 'Creative Houses' Breakdown (10:00–12:00)

1. Vantage Studios: Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Rainbow Six
2. Creative House 2: Ghost Recon, Splinter Cell, The Division
3. Creative House 3: Brawlhalla, For Honor, Riders Republic, Skull & Bones, The Crew
4. Creative House 4: Anno, Beyond Good & Evil, Might & Magic, Prince of Persia, Rayman
5. Creative House 5: Hasbro portfolio, Hungry Shark, Invincible, Just Dance, UNO, etc.

• Splinter Cell’s relegation: "I'm excited for Splinter Cell, you're excited for Splinter Cell, but how many people are currently excited for Splinter Cell, I think is the real problem. Even this remake coming out, I don't expect it to do big numbers." (12:31, Paris)

• Comparison to Devil May Cry: Despite a cult following, Splinter Cell lacks the “brand cache” to make a modern splash.

Cancellations & Delays Impact IP Health

• Prince of Persia, Ghost Recon, Rayman, and Splinter Cell all questioned in terms of future viability.
• Creative uncertainty leads to risk of more high-profile cancellations.
  • “Is this game getting canceled is my biggest fear?” (13:40, Roger)
  • “I think it's 50-50.” (13:50, Paris)

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Remake Delayed

• Further sign of production struggles: “The fact that they couldn't get a Assassin's Creed 4 remake …out…it's bizarre times and I'm very skeptical.” (17:07, Roger)
• Predicting 2026’s lineup: Maybe just Far Cry, Rainbow Six updates.
• Paris: "I'm not good."

3. Beyond Good and Evil 2: Still Clinging On (18:07–21:30)

• The “longest-in-dev title ever,” costing $500 million+, has survived this project purge.
• “Who's excited for Beyond Good and Evil at this point?...It could come out tomorrow. And how many people—let's not forget the first one…a lot of people never played it in the first place.” (19:34, Paris)
• Both are skeptical the game ever comes out; speculate Ubisoft is keeping it as a “tax writeoff” or for executive vanity.

4. Ubisoft’s Return-to-Office Mandate (21:30–24:44)

• Full-time in-office work for staff, justified as needed to “boost the collective performance for AAA.”
• Paris’s blunt take: "You ask people to come back into the office after they've been working from home and it allows you to not have to lay off people because they're going to leave on their own free will.” (23:41, Paris)
• Timing is telling: comes right after layoffs/restructuring, and is likely a cost-cutting measure.

5. The Fate of Other Major Franchises (Selected)

Call of Duty vs. Battlefield: A Watershed Year (38:01–43:29)

• Battlefield outsells Call of Duty for first time in 2025.
• Black Ops 7 ranks historically low (5th place).
• Factors: Battlefield did not launch on Game Pass (as CoD did, cannibalizing sales), earlier release window, and Battlefield’s major improvements.
• “Black Ops 7 was not a good game. It felt like glorified DLC…Having real competition now with Battlefield is going to make Call of Duty better.” (39:00, Paris)
• A critical year for CoD. Modern Warfare 4 will reveal whether the franchise can rebound or is now in long-term decline.

Splinter Cell Fan Generations (29:26–30:43)

• Paris: “I'm a Chaos Theory guy…Spy vs. Mercs, all that…the sweet spot.”
• Roger: “There's this almost literal generational divide (Chaos Theory/stealth vs. Conviction-forward/stealth-action)."
• If Splinter Cell’s remake ever appears, it will have to navigate this fanbase split.

Nintendo News (32:07–36:17)

• Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s Switch 2 edition and Bella Bell Park arrive March 26, 2026, with new multiplayer features and Rosalina as a playable character.
• Roger: “I bought full price…I dunno, maybe it was just too easy.”
• Paris: “I love Wonder. Adding additional content…yeah, I’ll definitely check it out.”

Wee (Wii) News Bites (44:59–end)

• Bubsy 4D coming May 22nd, gameplay praised by Roger, looks to be a promising platformer revival.
• Screamer: Anime burnout-style racing game.
• Mario Kart World: Teams added to Knockout tour.
• Yakuza Kiwami 3/Dark Ties demo: Out now.
• Moonshot Games layoffs, Nintendo's aquarium tour, and notable industry retirements.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ubisoft’s struggles:
  "Tough to read all this because…you knew those share prices were going to drop immediately as soon as you hear that they're canceling a game that's been in development for so long.” (08:53, Roger)
• On layoffs and return-to-office:
  “I'm looking for another remote job…that’s the one, I’m trying to get you to leave on your own free will.” (23:54, Paris)
• On Beyond Good and Evil 2:
  "What type of blackmail does this game have over Ubisoft? …How has this happened for so long?" (20:14, Roger)
• The Splinter Cell generation divide:
  “You remake this game, you've got two generations of fans. How are you going to meld it together?” (30:43, Roger)
• On CoD and industry rivalry:
  “You have to innovate… If you want sustained success. The fact that it's lasted this long is a minor miracle.” (41:45, Paris)
• On Ubisoft’s future:
  "Those IPs are too valuable for someone to not covet...eventually, the Ubisoft we know won't exist." (50:13, Paris)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Ubisoft Restructuring & Stock Drop: 07:01–16:23
• Beyond Good and Evil 2 Survival: 18:07–21:30
• Return-to-Office Mandate: 21:30–24:44
• Nintendo (Mario Wonder, Switch 2): 32:07–36:17
• Battlefield vs. Call of Duty Sales: 38:46–43:50
• Splinter Cell Fan Divide: 29:26–30:43
• Audience Q: Ubisoft’s Fate: 49:46–51:01
• Wii News (Quick Hits): 44:59–end

Wrap-Up and Outlook

Predictions/Industry Outlook:

• Paris gives Ubisoft “five years before they’re bought out,” predicting a sale of IPs/studios by division.
• Roger is even more pessimistic—“three years”—and expects Tencent to pick up many pieces.
• The end of the episode concludes that while change seems inevitable, it spells a “depressing” end for Ubisoft’s legacy as a unified publisher.

Final Notes:
This episode delivers an honest, sometimes sobering, but always entertaining analysis of the current gaming industry’s volatility, centered especially on Ubisoft’s crossroads. The hosts blend deep industry knowledge with lively banter, keeping even complex business news engaging for listeners.

For More:
Check out Paris Lily on Gamertag Radio / YouTube, and Roger/Kinda Funny on Patreon/YouTube for more insights and behind-the-scenes content!