Assassin's Creed Shadows Early Access Cancelled Amongst Other Moves at Ubisoft

Ubisoft Makes Major Changes Following Challenging Year for Game Releases

Ubisoft has announced several significant changes impacting upcoming and recently released titles, citing challenges with game launches and sales performance. The most notable announcements involve Assassin's Creed Shadows and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.

Assassin's Creed Shadows Early Access Cancellation and Price Adjustment

Ubisoft has canceled the early access release for Assassin's Creed Shadows, previously offered with the Collector's Edition. This decision, confirmed via a Discord Q&A, follows a delay of the game's official launch to February 14, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The company also reduced the price of the Collector's Edition from $280 to $230. The Collector's Edition will still include the artbook, steelbook, figurine, and other announced items. Unconfirmed reports suggest Ubisoft Quebec is exploring the addition of a co-op mode featuring both antagonists, Naoe and Yasuke.

Insider Gaming reports that the early access cancellation stems from difficulties in ensuring historical accuracy and cultural representation. These challenges also contributed to the game's release date postponement, along with the need for additional polish.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Development Team Dissolved

Ubisoft has also disbanded the development team at Ubisoft Montpellier responsible for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. While the game received positive reviews, French media outlet Origami reports that the decision was made due to the title failing to meet sales expectations. Although Ubisoft hasn't released specific sales figures, they've acknowledged disappointment with the game's performance within the context of a challenging year.

Abdelhak Elguess, senior producer of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, stated that the team is proud of their work and confident in the game's long-term success. He confirmed the completion of the post-launch roadmap, including three free content updates and a DLC released in September. Future plans include bringing the game to Mac this winter and focusing on future Prince of Persia experiences. The team members have transitioned to other projects within Ubisoft.