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

Ubisoft Halts Assassin's Creed Shadows Early Access and Disbands Prince of Persia Team

Ubisoft's recent struggles with game releases have led to significant changes. The early access release for Assassin's Creed Shadows, initially planned for Collector's Edition purchasers, has been canceled. Additionally, the development team behind Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has been dissolved.

Assassin's Creed Shadows: Early Access Cancelled, Price Reduction

Ubisoft confirmed the cancellation of Assassin's Creed Shadows early access via a Discord Q&A. The decision follows a delay to the game's official release date, now set for February 14, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Furthermore, the Collector's Edition price has been reduced from $280 to $230, while still including the artbook, steelbook, figurine, and other promised items. Season passes have also been scrapped. Rumors suggest a potential future co-op mode featuring Naoe and Yasuke, but this remains unconfirmed.

Insider Gaming reports that the early access cancellation stems from challenges in maintaining historical accuracy and cultural representation, factors also contributing to the release date postponement. Ubisoft Quebec reportedly needs additional time for game polish.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Team Disbanded

Ubisoft Montpellier's team responsible for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has been disbanded. Despite positive reviews, the decision, reported by Origami, is attributed to the game not meeting sales expectations. While specific sales figures remain undisclosed, Ubisoft previously expressed disappointment with the game's performance.

Abdelhak Elguess, senior producer, stated in an IGN interview 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 updates and a DLC. Future plans include a Mac release this winter and the reassignment of team members to other projects. Ubisoft reiterated its commitment to future Prince of Persia titles.