Assassin's Creed Shadows Early Access Cancelled Amongst Other Moves at Ubisoft

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 challenging period 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 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.

Furthermore, Ubisoft has lowered the price of the Assassin's Creed Shadows Collector's Edition from $280 to $230. The revised price 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 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 attributed to the game failing to meet sales expectations. While specific sales figures remain undisclosed, Ubisoft has acknowledged disappointment with the game's performance.

Abdelhak Elguess, senior producer of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, stated in an IGN interview that the team is "extremely proud" of their work and committed to the game's long-term success. He confirmed that the post-launch content roadmap is complete, including three free updates and a DLC released in September. Future plans include a Mac release "by this winter" and the reassignment of team members to other projects. Ubisoft reiterated its commitment to the Prince of Persia franchise, promising future installments.