Ubisoft Halts Assassin's Creed Shadows Early Access and Disbands Prince of Persia Team

Ubisoft's recent struggles with game launches have led to significant changes. The early access release for Assassin's Creed Shadows, initially planned for Collector's Edition purchasers, 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. These issues also contributed to the release date postponement.

In other news, Ubisoft has scrapped plans for season passes and 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 a co-op mode featuring the antagonists Naoe and Yasuke.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Team Dissolved

Ubisoft Montpellier's Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown development team has been disbanded. While the game received positive reviews, Origami reported that the decision was driven by disappointing sales figures, reflecting Ubisoft's overall challenging year.

Senior producer Abdelhak Elguess stated that the team is proud of their work and confident in the game's long-term success. He confirmed the completion of the post-launch roadmap, including DLC and free updates. Future plans include a Mac release this winter and a focus on bringing the game to more platforms. Team members have transitioned to other projects within Ubisoft. The company expressed its commitment to future Prince of Persia titles.