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

Ubisoft's Recent Decisions: Assassin's Creed Shadows and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Ubisoft has made several significant announcements impacting the release of Assassin's Creed Shadows and the future of the Prince of Persia franchise. These moves follow a challenging period for the company's game launches.

Assassin's Creed Shadows: Early Access Cancelled and Collector's Edition Price Reduced

Ubisoft has cancelled the early access release for Assassin's Creed Shadows, initially planned for those who purchased the Collector's Edition. This decision, confirmed via a Discord Q&A, comes alongside the previously announced delay of the game's official launch to February 14, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Furthermore, Ubisoft has lowered the price of the Assassin's Creed Shadows Collector's Edition from $280 to $230. The Collector's Edition will still include the artbook, steelbook, figurine, and other previously advertised items. Rumors persist about a potential co-op mode featuring Naoe and Yasuke, but this remains unconfirmed.

Insider Gaming reports that the cancellation of early access stems from challenges ensuring historical accuracy and cultural representation, factors also contributing to the game's delay. Ubisoft Quebec requires additional time for final polishing. Season passes for the game have also been scrapped.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Development Team Dissolved

The development team behind Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown at Ubisoft Montpellier has been disbanded. While the game received positive critical reception, French media outlet Origami reports that the decision was made due to the game failing to meet Ubisoft's sales expectations. Although specific sales figures haven't been released, Ubisoft has previously expressed disappointment with the game's performance.

Abdelhak Elguess, senior producer of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, stated in an IGN interview that the team is "extremely proud" of their work. He confirmed that the game's post-launch roadmap is complete, including three free content updates and a DLC released in September. The team is now focusing on expanding the game's reach to new platforms, including a Mac release planned for this winter. Most team members have transitioned to other projects within Ubisoft. Despite the team's dissolution, Ubisoft remains committed to future Prince of Persia projects.