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

Ubisoft Announces Changes to Assassin's Creed and Prince of Persia Franchises

Ubisoft has made several significant announcements impacting its Assassin's Creed and Prince of Persia franchises. The early access release for Assassin's Creed Shadows, previously offered with the Collector's Edition, has been canceled. The game's launch date has also been pushed back to February 14, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

The decision to cancel early access, according to Insider Gaming, stems from challenges in maintaining historical accuracy and cultural representation. This, along with the need for further polish, contributed to the delay. Additionally, the price of the Assassin's Creed Shadows Collector's Edition has been reduced from $280 to $230, though it still includes the artbook, steelbook, figurine, and other previously announced items. Rumors persist of a potential co-op mode featuring Naoe and Yasuke, but this remains unconfirmed.

In a separate announcement, Ubisoft confirmed the disbandment of the team behind Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, a title from Ubisoft Montpellier. Despite positive critical reception, the decision was reportedly made due to unmet sales expectations.

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. He confirmed that the post-launch roadmap is complete, with three free content updates and one DLC released in September. The team is now focusing on expanding the game's reach to additional platforms, including a Mac release planned for this winter. Ubisoft remains committed to the Prince of Persia franchise, promising future installments.