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, previously offered with the Collector's Edition, has been canceled. Furthermore, 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, contributing to both the delay and the cancellation of early access.

To compensate, Ubisoft has reduced the price of the Assassin's Creed Shadows Collector's Edition from $280 to $230. The Collector's Edition still includes the artbook, steelbook, figurine, and other previously announced items. Unconfirmed reports suggest Ubisoft Quebec is exploring the addition of a co-op mode featuring both antagonists, Naoe and Yasuke.

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

Ubisoft Montpellier's team behind Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has been disbanded, despite positive critical reception. French outlet Origami reports that unmet sales expectations were the primary reason. While Ubisoft hasn't released specific sales figures, they've expressed disappointment with the game's performance.

Senior producer Abdelhak Elguess stated that the team is proud of their work and confident in the game's long-term success. They are focusing on expanding the game's reach to new platforms, including a Mac release planned for this winter. Team members have transitioned to other projects within Ubisoft. Ubisoft remains committed to future Prince of Persia titles.