Sorta. Ubisoft uses the assembly line method for game development, which is why everything is inconsistent and halfbaked (and also why their ending credits are like 30 fucking minutes long).

I have quite a few. SSI is the first that comes to my mind.

well there is a reason that i buy the AC games only when they are on sale ^^. Skipped Unity entirely and guess same goes for the new one. My favorite one was AC Brotherhood.

I don't think that's even possible. What do you mean by that exactly?

They have basically all of their studios around the globe contributing bits and pieces to games. It's why game mechanics are so disjointed. It isn't one or two offices collaborating, it is multiple studios making parts to churn out games.

Pre-Halo Bungie was pretty awesome, too.

Any link to an article about that? I could understand one studio providing art to another, it's kind of like using a contractor for art or music, which a lot of games do (many cinematics are done by contractors), I can see an engine team creating an engine that other teams will use, but when it comes to level design and game mechanics it sounds rather strange.

You mean Strategic Simulations Inc?
I only know them for their glorious Warlord Battlecry, but I thought SSI is no more as they become part of Ubisoft 14 years ago. See what Ubisoft becomes, I do not believe it is better than CD Projekt Red now.
Bungie seems to be awesome no more......

It seems almost all the good studio either was bought out or died......

Tried to find sauce, but the top results on google were all rants. I recall seeing things a few years back around the time of Ass Creed Revelations I think it was, but I've long since lost the source.

That said there is multiple articles and reports about Ubi's frequent use of multiple studios in development. Found this: http://www.gamesradar.com/ubisoft-takes-co-op-next-level-10-studio-game-development/ but have no previously experience with the site so I can't attest to reliability.

NoNewTaleToTell said "declaring CD Projekt Red the best dev/publisher of all time", not "of today". So, I stand by SSI, even if they are sadly gone.

For SSI, I recommend you take a look, for example, at "FORGOTTEN REALMS: THE ARCHIVES - COLLECTION TWO" here on GOG.

As for Ubisoft, I myself prefer the Prince of Persia games to the Witcher games (haven't tried the third (too expensive), but wasn't too fond of the first two).

Then the list to choose from is long. Interplay, THQ, EX Blizzard, Maxis, Valve, Origin, Square, Nintendo, Lucas Arts, Ex Bungie, Sega, Capcom, Bullfrog, Sierra, Ex EA......

You choose SSI over all them?

As I said, I have quite a few, and you seem to have too. But from the ones you list, I will probably still stick with SSI.

I am more of a "favourite game" person than a "favourite developer/publisher" person. For example, I believe Blackguards is one of the best games of recent years (for me), but that doesn't make Daedalic my favourite publisher.

According to a "making of" article on the Pelit magazine, the devs where summoned to the head office and while to their surprise they were given more money and ordered to increase the scope, they were also expected to get the game ready for the xmas season, so outsourcing became necessary.

So most of the time when something in any AC game after that feels like it's just glued in at the last minute, it probably was.