As Ubisoft navigates ongoing challenges with its game releases, it has announced the cancellation of the early access for Assassin's Creed Shadows. Additionally, the team responsible for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has been dissolved due to disappointing sales figures.
Ubisoft Cancels Assassin's Creed Shadows Early Access Release
Assassin's Creed Shadows Collector's Edition's Price Gets Bumped Down
In a recent Discord Q&A session, Ubisoft confirmed the cancellation of the early access release for Assassin's Creed Shadows. Initially, early access was promised to buyers of the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Collector’s Edition, but the game will now launch on its official release date without any early access.
This decision follows the announcement that Assassin's Creed Shadows' release has been postponed to February 14, 2025. The game is set to launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
In addition to canceling the early access, Ubisoft has decided to discontinue season passes and reduce the price of the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Collector’s Edition from $280 to $230. The collector's edition will still include the official artbook, steelbook, figurine, and other announced items. Rumors have circulated about Ubisoft Quebec planning to introduce a co-op mode featuring the game's protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, but no official confirmation has been provided.
According to Insider Gaming, the cancellation of early access stems from Ubisoft's struggles with maintaining historical accuracy and cultural representation. This issue, coupled with the need for additional time to polish the game, contributed to the delay of the official release date to February next year.
Ubisoft Disbands Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Dev Team
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Sales Cited as Main Factor
Ubisoft has disbanded the development team behind Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, an acclaimed action-platformer released this year. The team, part of Ubisoft Montpellier, was dissolved due to unmet sales expectations, despite receiving positive reviews. Ubisoft has not disclosed specific sales figures but has expressed disappointment with the game's performance during a challenging year.
In a statement to IGN, Abdelhak Elguess, senior producer of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, expressed pride in the team's work and confidence in the game's long-term success. He noted that the game has completed its post-launch roadmap, which included three free content updates and one DLC released in September.
Elguess also mentioned that the focus is now on expanding the game's availability to more platforms, with a Mac release planned for this winter. He added that most team members have transitioned to other projects within Ubisoft, and the company remains committed to bringing more Prince of Persia experiences to fans in the future.
