Today Ubisoft announced the opening of a new studio in Sofia, Bulgaria. Alexandru-Ion Radu, recently named director of recruitment and training at Ubisoft's Romania studio, has been appointed manager of the new studio, reporting directly to Sebastien Delen, managing director of Ubisoft Romania. The new studio is working on the Rayman Raving Rabbids PC version, as well as the yet unannounced CSI console port.

Ubisoft today released its 2005-2006 annual results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006. At €547M, sales were up 3% from the previous fiscal year. Profits, however, declined over 50%, from €24.7M to €11.9M, due to research and development for next-gen titles and increased marketing costs during the console transition. The initial investment has already begun to pay off, as next-gen titles composed almost 30% of their sales for the fiscal year.

Earlier this year Ubisoft announced that it had signed a license agreement with VIZ Media to bring the Shonen Jump Naruto animation series for the Xbox 360. A job application page reveals that the famed Ubisoft Montreal studio is the one in charged of the project, looking looking for a Creative Director with combat, fight and RPG experience, strong sensibility and general knowledge of the Manga and Japanese cultures, as well as flexibility in working with Hollywood talent.

Multiple online sources seems to have confirmed what might be an early list of additional titles for Nintendo's next gen Wii console. According to the release schedule sent to North American retail stores, Ubisoft is preparing no less than 5 titles, in addition to the already announced Red Steel and Rayman games. Blazing Angels, GT (racing title), Monster Trucks (more racing), Prince of Persia and Far Cry. These titles are pegged as Wii launch window titles, meaning they will not be available at launch but shortly thereafter. To be taken with a grain of salt, but if true, very exciting ...

Ubisoft is giving people with a Ubi.com account a chance to join the Dark Messiah closed beta test. In Dark Messiah of Might and Magic you will be introduced to the world of Ashan, the new setting for all future Might & Magic games. Ashan is a dark and unforgiving world, scarred by a bloody history and threatened by an apocalyptic prophecy: the Dark Messiah.

Ubisoft has signed a license deal with Touchstone Television for ABC's hit drama Lost and turn it into a new game franchise, tentatively scheduled for 2007. Ubisoft is currently in negotiations with TV series writers to work on story adaptation, and will recruit the neccesary to contribute their likenesses and voice talents.

Check out the following new screens from Ubisoft's E3 2006 lineup:

• Haze (PS2/Xbox/PS3/X360/PC) - Features & Screens
• Splinter Cell Double Agent (NGC/PS2/Xbox/X360/PC) - Screens & Trailer
• Rainbow Six Vegas (ALL) - Screens
• Dark Messiah of Might & Magic - Features, Screens & Trailer
• Assassin's Creed (PS3) - Features, Screens & Trailer
• Brothers In Arms Hell’s Highway (PS3/X360/PC) - Features, Screens & Trailer
• Rayman: Raving Rabbids (ALL) - Features, Screens & Trailer
• Red Steel (Wii) - Features, Screens & Trailer
• Enchanted Arms (X360) - Features & Screens
• Open Season (ALL) - Features & Screens

Today Ubisoft announced its lineup of titles for the 2006 E3 in Los Angeles, Calif. Ubisoft will showcase 10 new titles, including a yet unannounced project in development over at Radical entertainment (known for Timesplitters). Read more for details ...

Mid April Vivendi announced it had hired former Ubisoft COO Tremblay, but now it seems that this may not go into effect anytime soon. During his Ubisoft days Tremblay was a strong supporter of its one-year non-compete clause barring employees to jump ship to another developer/publisher. Now its seems Tremblay is victim of his own stance, as Ubisoft is taking him to court blocking his Vivendi appointment.

Today Ubisoft announced that it will publish the Xbox 360 exclusive Enchanted Arms, created by development studio FromSoftware in Japan, the first true next-generation Japanese RPG adventure game. The Enchanted Arms adventure takes place in a fantasy world filled with beautiful cinematic graphics and vibrant characters.

VUGames announced today that Martin Tremblay has joined as President, Worldwide Studios. In his new role, Martin will be responsible for setting the vision for the company's products, overseeing operations of internal studios, and managing external development relationships.

Ubisoft announced today that it has signed a licensing agreement with VIZ Media to develop video games based on VIZ Media's Shonen Jump Naruto animation series for the Xbox 360, scheduled to hit stores in 2007.

Ubisoft announced today that it will publish Final Fantasy XI for X360 and the Treasures of Aht Urhgan expansion pack for PS2/PC in Europe. While the expansion pack is only for the PS2 and PC, the Final Fantasy XI X360 version will include the original and all 3 expansions. Treasures of Aht Urhgan introduces new maps, monsters, and several new classes such as the much-anticipated Blue Mage.

Today Ubisoft announced that it will publish Call of Juarez for the PC in North America and Germany in Summer 2006. Call of Juarez is a unique first-person shooter set in the classic Wild West and is being developed by Techland.

DemonWare announced a multi-title agreement with Ubisoft to power multiplayer functionality across all platforms for the publisher's titles. The announcement expands the relationship between the two companies after a recent successful integration on a major project.

Today Ubisoft announced that it acquired all the remaining intellectual property rights related to the Far Cry property as well as a perpetual license to use the CryENGINE.

Merely a few days after the announcement that Shadowbane will be free for all to play, Ubisoft hands pink slips to all Wolfpack Studios employees and sends them packing. Reason for the closure is that Ubisoft is refocusing its efforts on the console market with the new fiscal year. Shadowbane launched 3 years ago as the first MMO to offer a Dynamic World Model, in which players' actions and decisions permanently change the history, politics and landscape of the game. What will happen to the actual game/servers is unknown at this point.

Today Ubisoft announced it has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Taito for its Xbox 360-exclusive Over G Fighters. Over G Fighters is the only modern jet fighter game to deliver intense and exciting aerial combat showcasing the awesome power of modern aircrafts on the Xbox 360.

Today Ubisoft and Shaun White, snowboarding halfpipe Gold Medalist in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin and six time X Games Gold Medalist, announced an exclusive worldwide agreement to create video games inspired by White's world-famous snowboarding style.

According to its sources, GameIndustry.biz reports that British developer Lionhead Studios is in acquisition talks with platform holder Microsoft and French publisher Ubisoft. Electronic Arts has ruled out the possibility of acquiring the studio behind Fable and Black & White. None of the parties were willing to comment, although Lionhead did confirm the talks, which occur frequently.

Paradox Interactive announced that it is expanding and has opened a second office in New York City headed by Marketing Executive Susana Meza. Ubisoft also announced the opening of a new office in Dallas, Texas which will house a sales team that will focus on supporting retailers in the area and strengthening regional partnerships, spearheaded by directors of sales Ana Raphael and Linda Reese.

Today Ubisoft announced that it will publish and distribute LostMagic, the Taito-developed role-playing action video game for the Nintendo DS system in North America and Europe this spring.

Today Ubisoft announced that it has signed an agreement with Capcom to distribute Resident Evil 4, Onimusha 3 and Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening Special Edition for the PC. Ubisoft will distribute Capcom's games in North American and European territories beginning in February 2006 with the release of Onimusha 3: Demon Siege.

Today Ubisoft announced that its Montreal Studio is developing two new titles in the Far Cry Instincts franchise. Far Cry Instincts Next Chapter for the Xbox, and Far Cry Instincts Predator for Xbox 360, which will include the original Far Cry product as well as the Far Cry Next Chapter.

4Kids Entertainment and The Mirage Group announced today an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Ubisoft to develop and publish Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video games based on the upcoming CG feature-length film.