Ubisoft Cancels Assassin's Creed Shadows Early Access

Ubisoft is navigating a challenging period with its game releases, and the company has made significant announcements regarding its upcoming titles. Notably, the early access release for Assassin's Creed Shadows has been canceled, and the development team behind Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has been disbanded due to sales not meeting expectations.

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. This means that even those who purchased the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Collector’s Edition will not be able to play the game before its official launch date.

The release of Assassin's Creed Shadows has been postponed to February 14, 2025, and will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Alongside the cancellation of early access, Ubisoft has decided to eliminate season passes and has reduced the price of the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Collector’s Edition from $280 to $230. The edition still includes an official artbook, steelbook, figurine, and other exclusive items.

There are unconfirmed reports suggesting that Ubisoft Quebec might be working on a co-op mode for Assassin's Creed Shadows, allowing players to control both Naoe and Yasuke simultaneously. However, Ubisoft has not officially announced this feature.

Insider Gaming reports that the decision to cancel early access stems from Ubisoft's struggles with maintaining historical accuracy and cultural representation. This issue, combined with the need for additional time to polish the game, contributed to the delay of the official release date.

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, a critically acclaimed action-platformer released this year. The team, part of Ubisoft Montpellier, was dissolved due to the game's sales falling short of expectations. Despite 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, senior producer Abdelhak Elguess expressed pride in the team's work and confidence in the game's long-term success. He noted that Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has completed its post-launch roadmap, which included three free content updates and a DLC released in September.

Elguess also mentioned that the focus is now on expanding the game's availability to more platforms, with a Mac version expected to launch this winter. Most of the team members have transitioned to other projects within Ubisoft, and the company remains committed to delivering more Prince of Persia experiences in the future.