Ubisoft's Recent Decisions Impact Assassin's Creed and Prince of Persia Franchises

Ubisoft has announced several significant changes affecting its upcoming Assassin's Creed Shadows and the recently released Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. These moves follow a year of challenges for the company's game releases.

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

Ubisoft confirmed via a Discord Q&A that the early access period for Assassin's Creed Shadows, previously offered with the Collector's Edition, has been canceled. This follows the game's release date postponement 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.

Furthermore, Ubisoft has lowered 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. Rumors of a planned co-op mode featuring the antagonists Naoe and Yasuke remain unconfirmed.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Development Team Dissolved

In a more surprising development, Ubisoft has disbanded the Ubisoft Montpellier team responsible for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. French outlet Origami reports that this decision, despite positive critical reception, is due to the game failing to meet sales expectations. While specific sales figures haven't been released, Ubisoft has acknowledged disappointment with the game's performance.

Abdelhak Elguess, senior producer of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, stated that the team is "extremely proud" of their work and that the game's post-launch roadmap is complete. He confirmed that the team members have transitioned to other projects within Ubisoft, and the company remains committed to future Prince of Persia titles. A Mac version is anticipated this winter.