Ubisoft Alters Plans: Assassin's Creed Shadows Early Access Cancelled, Prince of Persia Team Dissolved

Ubisoft's recent struggles with game launches have led to significant changes in their upcoming releases. The early access period for Assassin's Creed Shadows, initially planned for Collector's Edition purchasers, has been cancelled. Additionally, the development team behind Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has been disbanded.

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 release date postponement to February 14, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The Collector's Edition price has been reduced from $280 to $230, but still includes the artbook, steelbook, figurine, and other previously announced items.

Insider Gaming reports that the early access cancellation stems from challenges in maintaining historical accuracy and cultural representation. These issues, along with the need for further polish, contributed to the delay. Unconfirmed rumors suggest Ubisoft Quebec is exploring a co-op mode featuring both antagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, but this remains unverified. Season passes for the game have also been scrapped.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Team Disbanded

Ubisoft Montpellier's team responsible for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has been dissolved, despite the game receiving positive reviews. French media outlet Origami attributes this decision to the game failing to meet sales expectations, a reflection of Ubisoft's overall challenging year.

Abdelhak Elguess, senior producer of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, stated that the team is proud of their work and confident in the game's long-term success. The team's focus now shifts to expanding the game's reach to new platforms, including a planned Mac release this winter. Team members have transitioned to other projects within Ubisoft. The company remains committed to future Prince of Persia projects.