Ubisoft says the only games worth making are blockbuster franchises

Ubisoft is only interested in releasing video games that can be developed into successful (and lucrative) franchises. Tony Key, the publisher's VP of sales and marketing, made that message abundantly clear in a recent interview with A List Daily. "That's what all our games are about; we won't even start if we don't think we can build a franchise out of it," Key said. "There's no more fire and forget — it's too expensive." Key had been discussing the massive promotional muscle that Ubisoft had put behind Assassin's Creed 3, and expressed hope that Watch Dogs (bound for next-gen consoles this fall) has the makings of another multi-release saga. The publisher is feeling confident it's on the right path, but Keys says, "until we're the...