French multimedia conglomerate Vivendi SA is steadily gobbling up Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry creator Ubisoft Entertainment SA, and now Vivendi snatched up a total of nearly 18 percent of Ubisoft’s shares.

According to a report by Reuters, a filing made by Vivendi show that it now owns 17.73 percent of Ubisoft’s shares, which Reuters notes is above the threshold where its stake must be publicly disclosed. The company also appears to be seeking a board position within Ubisoft.

Ubisoft’s management has repeatedly condemned Vivendi’s attempts to muscle its way into the studio, and Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has previously called Vivendi’s original share purchase “unsolicited and unwelcome.”

In light of Vivendi’s latest move, Ubisoft has once again spoken out against the company’s attempts to gradually take over the studio in a statement to Reuters.

“The statement confirms the customary strategy of a creeping takeover by Vivendi, which announces it has no intention to take control of Ubisoft, while regularly increasing its stake and preparing an offensive during the next annual general meeting,” Ubisoft said in its statement.

“Ubisoft’s management reiterates that, in spite of its repeated written demands, Vivendi has not managed to present a convincing detailed plan of the cooperation it has promised since it bought shares in the company.”

Ubisoft is one of the largest game developers and publishers in the world, and the company employs over 3,000 people around the globe. While it is probably best known for developing major triple-A franchises like Assassin’s Creed, Ubisoft also publishes a wide range of other games, including Child of Light, Just Dance, and Valiant Hearts.

Image courtesy of Ubisoft Entertainment SA