Ubisoft Scraps Assassin's Creed Shadows Early Access, Shuffles Prince of Persia Team
Ubisoft's recent struggles with game releases have led to some significant changes. The early access release for Assassin's Creed Shadows, previously offered with the Collector's Edition, has been canceled. Furthermore, the team behind the well-received Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has been disbanded.
Assassin's Creed Shadows: Delayed and Re-priced
The cancellation of early access for Assassin's Creed Shadows follows the game's delay to February 14, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Ubisoft has also reduced the price of the Collector's Edition from $280 to $230, while confirming the removal of planned season passes. The Collector's Edition will still include the artbook, steelbook, figurine, and other previously announced items. Rumors persist of a potential co-op mode featuring the antagonists Naoe and Yasuke, though this remains unconfirmed.
Insider Gaming suggests the early access cancellation stems from challenges in maintaining historical accuracy and cultural representation, factors also contributing to the release date postponement.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Team Dissolved
Ubisoft has dissolved the Ubisoft Montpellier team responsible for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Despite positive critical reception, the game apparently failed to meet Ubisoft's sales expectations, prompting this decision. While sales figures remain undisclosed, Ubisoft has acknowledged disappointment with the game's performance.
Abdelhak Elguess, senior producer for The Lost Crown, expressed pride in the team's work and commitment to the game's future success, highlighting its post-launch content roadmap and upcoming Mac release. He confirmed that team members have transitioned to other projects within Ubisoft, and the company remains committed to future Prince of Persia titles.
