Ubisoft Cancels Assassin's Creed Shadows Early Access

As Ubisoft grapples with ongoing challenges in its game launches, it has officially announced the cancellation of the early access release for Assassin's Creed Shadows. Furthermore, 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

Ubisoft has confirmed through a Discord Q&A session that the early access release for Assassin's Creed Shadows has been entirely canceled. This means that even those who purchased the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Collector’s Edition will no longer have the opportunity to play the game before its official release date.

This decision follows the announcement that Assassin's Creed Shadows will now launch on February 14, 2025, delayed from its original schedule. The game will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

In addition to canceling the early access, Ubisoft has decided to discontinue season passes for the game and has reduced the price of the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Collector’s Edition from $280 to $230. Despite the price cut, the collector's edition will still include the official artbook, steelbook, figurine, and other promised items. Rumors have also surfaced about a potential co-op mode featuring the game's protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, though Ubisoft has not yet confirmed this feature.

According to Insider Gaming, the cancellation of early access is attributed to Ubisoft's ongoing struggles with maintaining historical accuracy and cultural representation in the game. These issues, alongside the need for additional time to polish the game, were cited as reasons for the delay until February 2025.

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 this year's critically acclaimed action-platformer, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. The team, part of Ubisoft Montpellier, was dissolved due to the game's sales falling short of expectations, as reported by French media outlet Origami. Although specific sales figures have not been disclosed, Ubisoft has expressed disappointment with the game's performance during a challenging year.

In a statement to IGN, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown senior producer Abdelhak Elguess expressed pride in the team's work and optimism about the game's long-term success. He noted that the game has completed its post-launch roadmap, which included three free content updates and a DLC released in September.

Elguess also mentioned that efforts are now focused on expanding the game's reach to more platforms, with a Mac version expected to be available by this winter. He reassured that most team members have transitioned to other projects within Ubisoft, leveraging their expertise. Elguess emphasized Ubisoft's commitment to the Prince of Persia franchise, promising more experiences in the future.