As COP27, the annual United Nations Climate Conference, comes to an end in Egypt this week, we invited two experts on environmental sustainability in the gaming industry to discuss the positive impact games can have to combat climate change. We explore where our industry stands in terms of carbon emissions, how game developers are mobilizing for the planet, and how games can change behaviors and educate players about environmental sustainability. Our guests for this episode are Nicolas...

What explains the growing popularity of sim games like Truck Driver and PowerWash Simulator? How do game designers turn everyday activities or “normal” jobs into fun game experiences that attract millions of players? To discuss gamification, the state of flow, and how running away from zombies can be fun, we’re joined by Miriam Popescu, Senior Game Designer at Ubisoft Massive, and Adrian Hon, CEO at Six to Start – the studio behind the popular running app Zombies, Run! – and author of You’ve...

From weapons and combat to historical figures and real-world places, video games – and other media – rely on realism and authenticity to entertain their audiences. So, how realistic should games be? How do game developers find the balance between authenticity and fun? And what purpose does authenticity serve? On this episode of The Tenth Art podcast, we’re joined by Thierry Noël, Senior Manager, Inspirational Content at Ubisoft, and Dr. Jacqueline Burgess, Lecturer in International Business...

When we think about video games, we often think about gameplay, worlds, combat, points and high scores… but how often do we think about what characters are wearing? And yet, with the popularity of multiplayer games, and even people sharing their single player experiences through streaming or virtual photography, how your character looks is increasingly important. How do players use fashion to express themselves in their favorite games? Is real-world fashion inspired by video games? How can...

Is virtual photography a form of artistic expression? What is the relationship between real-world and in-game photography? We invite Fawzi Mesmar, VP Editorial at Ubisoft, and Mélanie Courtinat, a French immersive artist and jury member of the Ubisoft Photomode contest, to discuss their experience with in-game photography, and how players use photomodes to express themselves and share their experiences with friends. Do you want to make some art in-game and share your best shots? You have...

It is often said that there are nine arts. What if video games are the tenth? In "Beyond Game" new season "The Tenth Art", Ubisoft developers talk with scientists, artists and academics from beyond Ubisoft to explore the place of video games in culture and society. And spoiler: games are everywhere! From the clothes you wear to science labs, and even in museums!  But with great power comes great responsibility. With more and more players and increasingly familiar brands, video games play an...

To celebrate a year of ShantyTok, the Ubisoft Game Makers podcast asks: What is a sea shanty and why are they so popular during the pandemic? On this episode, we speak with American musician Craig Edwards about the historical context from which sea shanties first emerged, Narrative Director Darby McDevitt about the origins of the pirate radio in Assassins Creed IV Black Flag, as well as singer Seán Dagher and producer David Gossage about their work recording shanties for the game’s soundtrack.

As VR and virtual worlds become more accessible and commonplace, and with the “metaverse” being the buzzword of the day, we explore what it means to create and explore virtual worlds.  We spoke with Patrick Ingoldsby, art director at Ubisoft Toronto, on his team’s work representing the diversity of the near-future version of London in Watch Dogs: Legion; Renaud Person, world director at Ubisoft Annecy, about creating a game inspired by seven American National Parks for Riders Republic; and...

Ubisoft CEO and co-founder Yves Guillemot looks back on 35 years of games and talks about what’s next for Ubisoft and our teams around the world. Ubisoft is celebrating its 35th anniversary with free content for players until December 19, including rewards, sales, and giveaways. Visit Ubisoft.com to open your gifts! Transcripts of our podcast episodes are available on Ubisoft News.

A decade after he first stepped into the shoes of Vaas in Far Cry 3, Michael Mando joins us on this episode of the Ubisoft Game Makers podcast to talk about the creation of the character and what it’s like to play him once more in the Far Cr 6 DLC episode Vaas: Insanity, out on November 16. Transcripts of our podcast episodes are available on Ubisoft News. Game music featured in this episode is ‘Good Boy’ from the Far Cry 6: Complete Music (Original Game Soundtrack) | Music by Pedro...

In this podcast episode, composer Pedro Bromfman, well known for his work on the Netflix series Narcos, talks about his work composing the soundtrack for Far Cry 6. Listen to the Far Cry 6 Complete Soundtrack, available now: https://ubisoftmusic.lnk.to/FC6_CompleteMusic Transcripts of our podcast episodes are available on Ubisoft News.

Tanya DePass is the founder of I Need Diverse Games and worked as a diversity consultant on Far Cry 6 and other titles. She comes on the Ubisoft Game Makers podcast to talk about her work and to give advice to players and developers on how we can all work together to improve diversity, inclusion, and representation in the video game industry.   Find a transcript of this episode on Ubisoft News.

In this podcast episode, Ubisoft veteran Anne Blondel Jouin talks about her 25-year career in video games, from her first days out of business school in the PlayStation era to her role today leading a team that seeks out partnerships with industry whiz kids and indie developers. Visit jobs.ubisoft.com to find opportunities near you and start your own journey at Ubisoft. Find a transcript of this episode on Ubisoft News.

Are video games good for us? Can we learn by playing games? How worried should we be about screen time? In this podcast episode, Dr. Jan Plass, Paulette Goddard Chair in Digital Media and Learning Sciences and Professor at New York University, joins us to talk about learning and video games, a subject he has extensively researched. To learn more about the positive impacts of gaming and how to choose the right Ubisoft game for your needs, check out the Social Impact page on our website. Visit...

Ashly Burch is a writer and actress on the Apple TV+ series Mythic Quest, which is produced by Ubisoft. Episodes one through four of Season 2 of Mythic Quest are available to stream now, with new episodes releasing every Friday until the finale on June 25. Burch is also a renowned voice actress, featured in games like Horizon Zero Dawn, The Last of Us Part II, The Outer Worlds, and many more.

Composer Gareth Coker and Music Supervisor Jérôme Angelot take us behind the scenes of the creation of the music for Immortals Fenyx Rising. Find a transcript for this episode on Ubisoft News. Listen to the Immortals Fenyx Rising Original Game Soundtrack: https://idol.lnk.to/IFR_OSTFB.

Norwegian musician Einar Selvik, known for his band Wardruna and his work on the History Channel series Vikings, is one of three composers who worked on the soundtrack of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, released by Ubisoft in November 2020. Einar focused on the in-game, skaldic music players can hear in the world of Valhalla. In this episode of Game Makers, Einar breaks down the beat, melody, instrumentation, and singing in his track “Hausbrjótr - Skullcrusher”. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: The Wave...

As Ubisoft prepares to launch Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, “Echoes of Valhalla” is an immersive historical audio documentary series about Vikings. Comedians, historians, and reconstructed scenes will bring to life the glorious eras of the people of the North, relating the story of the Vikings as you have never heard before. Check out the other episodes, available in 7 languages, on assassinscreed.com/podcast or find them directly on Spotify.

Video games are for everyone, but many players face steep barriers to playing certain games. From a lack of subtitles to overly complicated controls, there are countless examples of ways in which video games inadvertently set up barriers for players, but also countless ways to refine and improve those features and ensure a positive playing experience for everyone. Cherry Thompson, Accessibility Project Manager at Ubisoft Montréal, tells us about their career path in video game accessibility,...

In this "Beyond Games" mini-series, the extraordinary composers who created the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla soundtrack – Jesper Kyd, Sarah Schachner, and Einar Selvik –break down five of their favorite tracks from the game. They reveal their secrets and inspirations, and the collaborative spirit that allowed them to write and record nearly six hours of music for the game using both ancient and modern instruments. BAFTA award-winning composer Jesper Kyd returns to the Assassin’s Creed series as...

In this "Beyond Games" mini-series, the extraordinary composers who created the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla soundtrack – Jesper Kyd, Sarah Schachner, and Einar Selvik –break down five of their favorite tracks from the game. They reveal their secrets and inspirations, and the collaborative spirit that allowed them to write and record nearly six hours of music for the game using both ancient and modern instruments. BAFTA award-winning composer Jesper Kyd returns to the Assassin’s Creed series as...

In this "Beyond Games" mini-series, the extraordinary composers who created the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla soundtrack – Jesper Kyd, Sarah Schachner, and Einar Selvik –break down five of their favorite tracks from the game. They reveal their secrets and inspirations, and the collaborative spirit that allowed them to write and record nearly six hours of music for the game using both ancient and modern instruments. American composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Sarah Schachner returns to...

In this "Beyond Games" mini-series, the extraordinary composers who created the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla soundtrack – Jesper Kyd, Sarah Schachner, and Einar Selvik –break down five of their favorite tracks from the game. They reveal their secrets and inspirations, and the collaborative spirit that allowed them to write and record nearly six hours of music for the game using both ancient and modern instruments. American composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Sarah Schachner returns to...

What is the truth? Kenyan-Norwegian singer, songwriter, and rapper Stella Mwangi wrote the song "Ma Itu" for Just Dance 2020. Inspired by a pun in her native language, Kikuyu, and an Afro-Futuristic beat provided by her producer Tom Rogstad, Stella wrote a dancing song with a strong, inspiring meaning that explores the concept of truth. “Shukuru means we will accept the truth, we will all praise the truth,” Stella explains. “The truth will be a delight, it won’t be a fight. Like a newborn...