When Amazon Quits, Ubisoft Swoops In
Ubisoft announced on December 15, 2025, that it’s acquiring Amazon Games Montreal, the entire development team behind the in-development MOBA March of Giants. The deal, which closed on December 16, brings the rights to the free-to-play 4v4 War MOBA under Ubisoft’s control while reuniting the publisher with some familiar faces who left years ago. Most notably, Xavier Marquis, the original creative director of Rainbow Six Siege, is returning to Ubisoft after departing in 2019.
This acquisition marks another chapter in Amazon’s ongoing retreat from mainstream AAA game development. After gutting its gaming division with 14,000 layoffs in October 2025 and canceling most first-party projects, Amazon is offloading what’s left to companies willing to take the risk. Ubisoft gets a MOBA with “real promise” according to executives, a veteran development team, and the chance to compete in one of gaming’s most lucrative but brutally competitive genres.
The financial terms weren’t officially disclosed, but sources told Variety the acquisition involved a minimal fee plus incentives tied to March of Giants’ future performance. That structure suggests Amazon wanted out badly enough to essentially give away years of development work rather than continue funding a project that doesn’t align with its new strategy of focusing on casual games and supporting existing titles like New World.
Who’s Coming Back to Ubisoft
Xavier Marquis isn’t just any developer. He was the creative director who defined Rainbow Six Siege’s vision during its crucial early years. The tactical shooter launched in 2015 and struggled initially but eventually became one of Ubisoft’s most successful live service games, maintaining a dedicated player base nearly a decade later. Marquis left Ubisoft in 2019 after handing Siege to a new team, joining Amazon in 2021 to work on what would become March of Giants.
Alexandre Parizeau, the production lead on March of Giants, also has deep Ubisoft roots. He served as managing director of Ubisoft Toronto, overseeing major AAA productions before leaving for Amazon. Together, Marquis and Parizeau bring proven expertise in building globally successful competitive and live service games, exactly what Ubisoft needs as it struggles through one of the worst financial periods in company history.
In a statement, Marquis said returning to Ubisoft “brings things full circle.” He noted, “We built some of our most meaningful work here, and we’re excited to continue developing March of Giants from within Ubisoft. This game has enormous potential, and I know Ubisoft can help us take it to the next level.” That confidence matters because March of Giants needs resources and support Amazon clearly wasn’t willing to provide long-term.
What They’re Bringing Back
- Xavier Marquis – Original Rainbow Six Siege creative director, left Ubisoft 2019
- Alexandre Parizeau – Former Ubisoft Toronto managing director
- Entire Amazon Games Montreal development team
- March of Giants IP and all development work to date
- Experience building live service competitive games
- Closed alpha testing data and player feedback from 2025
What Is March of Giants Anyway
March of Giants is a free-to-play 4v4 War MOBA that combines traditional lane-based MOBA combat with real-time strategy elements borrowed from games like Company of Heroes. Players control massive Giants who command thousands of AI soldiers across a ravaged urban battlefield. Instead of just controlling your character like in League of Legends or Dota 2, you’re simultaneously managing troop movements, deploying tactical structures called Battleworks, and making strategic decisions about resource allocation.
The gameplay revolves around three lanes where waves of soldiers spawn automatically. Giants are larger-than-life war commanders who feel weightier and slower than typical MOBA heroes. Each Giant fits into familiar roles like Tank, Support, or Ranged Carry, with unique abilities and playstyles. The twist is that you’re constantly directing your soldiers, telling them where to charge, when to hold position, and how to support your team’s advance.
Battleworks are the RTS component that sets March of Giants apart. Using supplies earned from completing objectives like capturing mines, you can deploy reinforcements including trenches, bunkers, tanks, and fresh waves of soldiers. Positioning these deployables strategically creates tactical advantages, turning the tide of battle when used correctly. The combination of MOBA hero combat and RTS army management creates something genuinely different from existing games in the genre.
Amazon’s Gaming Division Collapse
The sale of March of Giants and Amazon Games Montreal represents the latest casualty in Amazon’s disastrous gaming ambitions. The company announced 14,000 corporate layoffs in October 2025, with substantial cuts hitting its San Diego and Irvine game studios. Steve Boom, VP of Audio, Twitch, and Games, confirmed Amazon was ceasing “a considerable portion of our first-party AAA game development efforts, particularly in the realm of MMOs.”
This strategic pivot comes after years of failed launches and canceled projects. Amazon’s free-to-play shooter Crucible launched in 2020, failed spectacularly, and was shut down within months. MMO New World launched to huge initial interest but hemorrhaged players due to technical issues and design problems. The company canceled numerous unannounced projects including a Lord of the Rings MMO that had been in development for years.
Sources told Bloomberg that Amazon is now “leaning into the things Amazon does best,” which apparently doesn’t include developing competitive AAA games. The company is shifting focus toward casual gaming experiences, marketing support through Twitch, and publishing rather than development. That left March of Giants in limbo, with a talented team working on a promising project that no longer fit Amazon’s strategy.
Why Ubisoft Wants This Problem
Ubisoft acquiring March of Giants makes sense on paper despite the company’s current financial crisis. CEO Yves Guillemot stated the game “has a real opportunity to bring something fresh and dynamic to players, and to help Ubisoft compete in one of gaming’s biggest arenas.” MOBAs are massively profitable when successful. League of Legends generates billions annually. Dota 2 remains a pillar of Valve’s business. Even smaller successes like Smite maintain dedicated audiences for years.
Ubisoft desperately needs hits after an absolutely brutal 2024 and early 2025. Star Wars Outlaws underperformed expectations. Assassin’s Creed Shadows got delayed to March 2025 after initially being positioned as the game to salvage the year. The free-to-play shooter XDefiant shut down. The company closed Ubisoft Leamington and laid off 185 employees in January 2025 as part of “ongoing efforts to prioritize projects and reduce costs.”
The Tencent bailout in March 2025 provided $1.25 billion in investment by spinning off Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six Siege into a separate subsidiary. That deal stabilized finances but didn’t solve Ubisoft’s fundamental problem: they need new successful games. March of Giants, if it works, could become a live service cash cow that generates steady revenue for years. If it fails, Ubisoft paid minimal upfront costs and can cut losses without major damage.
The Marketing Angle
Part of the deal includes Amazon providing marketing support for March of Giants through Twitch, the streaming platform Amazon owns. This creates interesting synergy where Ubisoft gets access to Twitch’s massive gaming audience without paying typical advertising rates. Amazon benefits by keeping Twitch relevant for competitive gaming content even as it exits game development.
Twitch remains the dominant platform for watching MOBA gameplay. League of Legends and Dota 2 consistently rank among the most-watched games on the platform. If March of Giants succeeds in attracting even a fraction of that audience, the built-in Twitch marketing could be worth more than any cash Amazon might have charged for the studio and IP rights.
This arrangement also lets Amazon gracefully exit while maintaining some connection to the gaming industry through Twitch. They can promote a game they no longer have to fund while supporting a partner who took a project off their hands. It’s a win-win in a situation where Amazon needed any kind of win after burning hundreds of millions on failed gaming ventures.
What Happens Next
March of Giants will continue development under Ubisoft Montreal, which becomes part of the company’s new “creative house” structure. The Amazon Games Montreal team joins immediately with Marquis and Parizeau leading creative and production efforts. Ubisoft hasn’t announced a release date but confirmed the game completed closed alpha testing earlier in 2025, suggesting it’s further along than early prototypes.
The team is currently working on a major update that will introduce new Giants, expanded competitive modes, and essential systems for long-term growth. That language suggests Ubisoft is committed to launching March of Giants as a proper live service game with seasons, battle passes, and ongoing content updates rather than a one-and-done release.
Whether the game succeeds depends on execution in one of gaming’s most punishing genres. MOBAs have massive audiences but extremely high barriers to entry for new titles. League of Legends and Dota 2 have dominated for over a decade. Attempts to challenge them mostly failed despite big budgets and talented developers. Heroes of the Storm never gained traction. Paragon shut down. Battleborn flopped. The graveyard of dead MOBAs is filled with games that looked promising in alpha.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does March of Giants release?
No release date has been announced. The game completed closed alpha testing in 2025 and is currently in development at Ubisoft Montreal. The team is working on a major update before wider release.
How much did Ubisoft pay for Amazon Games Montreal?
Financial terms weren’t officially disclosed, but sources told Variety the deal involved a minimal upfront fee plus performance-based incentives tied to March of Giants’ future success.
Will March of Giants be free-to-play?
Yes, Ubisoft confirmed March of Giants will be a free-to-play title. The business model will likely include cosmetic microtransactions and seasonal content similar to other competitive MOBAs.
What platforms will March of Giants be on?
The game is currently in development for PC, with alpha testing happening through Steam. No console versions have been announced yet, though Ubisoft typically releases major titles across multiple platforms.
Why did Amazon sell the studio?
Amazon is exiting mainstream AAA game development after years of expensive failures. The company announced 14,000 layoffs in October 2025 and is refocusing on casual games and Twitch rather than developing competitive titles.
Who is Xavier Marquis?
Xavier Marquis was the original creative director of Rainbow Six Siege, one of Ubisoft’s most successful live service games. He left Ubisoft in 2019, joined Amazon in 2021, and is now returning to Ubisoft as creative director of March of Giants.
How is March of Giants different from League of Legends?
March of Giants combines MOBA hero combat with RTS army management. Players control Giants who command thousands of AI soldiers and deploy tactical structures like trenches and bunkers, blending genres in ways traditional MOBAs don’t.
Is Ubisoft in financial trouble?
Yes. Ubisoft received a $1.25 billion bailout from Tencent in March 2025, has laid off hundreds of employees, and struggled with underperforming game releases throughout 2024 and early 2025.
A Reunion Born From Desperation
The Ubisoft acquisition of Amazon Games Montreal is less a triumphant return of prodigal developers and more two struggling companies making pragmatic decisions. Amazon cuts losses on gaming ambitions that never materialized into success. Ubisoft gets a potential hit at bargain prices while reuniting with talent that helped build one of its few live service success stories.
Whether March of Giants becomes the next great MOBA or another forgotten also-ran depends on execution over the next year. The genre is unforgiving. Players don’t switch games casually when they’ve invested hundreds of hours mastering Champions in League or Heroes in Dota. March of Giants needs to offer something genuinely compelling to pull players away from established favorites.
The RTS elements and army management provide that differentiation on paper. Actually delivering a balanced, fun, competitive experience that sustains a player base is the hard part. Ubisoft has experience with live service games through Rainbow Six Siege and The Division. They understand what it takes to support a game for years. But they also shut down XDefiant after it failed to gain traction, showing they’ll cut losses when games don’t work.
For Xavier Marquis and Alexandre Parizeau, returning to Ubisoft completes a circle that started when they helped build the company’s live service expertise. Now they’re betting their reputations on whether March of Giants can replicate Rainbow Six Siege’s unlikely transformation from rough launch to enduring success. Amazon gave up on that bet. Ubisoft is willing to see it through. Which company made the right call won’t be clear until March of Giants either conquers the MOBA arena or joins the long list of challengers who tried and failed.