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

Ubisoft has made several significant announcements impacting upcoming and recently released titles. 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: No Early Access, Price Drop for Collector's Edition

Ubisoft confirmed the cancellation of Assassin's Creed Shadows' early access via a Discord Q&A. This follows the game's delay to February 14, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The decision, according to Insider Gaming, stems from challenges in maintaining historical accuracy and cultural representation. These same concerns contributed to the release date postponement, along with the need for further polish.

To compensate, Ubisoft has reduced the price of the Assassin's Creed Shadows Collector's Edition from $280 to $230. The edition still includes the artbook, steelbook, figurine, and other previously announced items. Unconfirmed reports suggest a potential future co-op mode featuring the antagonists Naoe and Yasuke, but this remains unverified. Season passes for the game have also been scrapped.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Team Disbanded Due to Sales

The team at Ubisoft Montpellier responsible for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has been disbanded. While the game received positive reviews, French outlet Origami reports that the decision is due to the title not meeting Ubisoft's sales expectations. Although specific sales figures haven't been released, Ubisoft has 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 released in September. The team is now focusing on expanding the game's reach to new platforms, including a Mac release anticipated this winter. Team members have transitioned to other projects within Ubisoft. The company remains committed to future Prince of Persia installments.