Ubisoft Cancels Early Access for Assassin's Creed Shadows

Ubisoft is navigating through turbulent times with its game releases, and the latest news confirms that the early access for Assassin's Creed Shadows has been canceled. Additionally, the development team behind Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has been dissolved due to disappointing sales figures.

Ubisoft Cancels Assassin's Creed Shadows Early Access Release

Assassin's Creed Shadows Collector's Edition's Price Gets Bumped Down

In a recent Discord Q&A session, Ubisoft announced the cancellation of the early access release for Assassin's Creed Shadows. Originally, early access was available to those who purchased the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Collector’s Edition, but with this new development, the game will not be accessible before its official release date.

This decision follows the delay of Assassin's Creed Shadows to February 14, 2025. The game is set to launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

In addition to canceling early access, Ubisoft has decided to eliminate season passes and has reduced the price of the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Collector’s Edition from $280 to $230. The collector's edition still includes the official artbook, steelbook, figurine, and other announced items. There are also unconfirmed reports suggesting that Ubisoft Quebec might be developing a co-op mode for Assassin's Creed Shadows, allowing players to control both protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, simultaneously.

According to Insider Gaming, the cancellation of early access stems from Ubisoft's challenges in maintaining historical accuracy and cultural representation. These issues also contributed to the game's release date being postponed, as Ubisoft Quebec needs additional time to refine the game.

Ubisoft Disbands Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Dev Team

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Sales Cited as Main Factor

Ubisoft has disbanded the team responsible for the critically acclaimed action-platformer Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. The team, part of Ubisoft Montpellier, was dissolved due to the game's sales not meeting expectations, despite receiving positive reviews. Ubisoft has not released specific sales figures but has expressed disappointment with the game's performance during a challenging year.

In a statement to IGN, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown senior producer Abdelhak Elguess expressed pride in the team's work and confidence in the game's long-term success. He noted that the game has completed its post-launch roadmap, which included three free content updates and a DLC released in September.

Elguess also mentioned that the focus is now on expanding the game's availability to more platforms, with a Mac version expected to launch "by this winter." He confirmed that most team members have transitioned to other projects within Ubisoft, leveraging their expertise. Elguess emphasized Ubisoft's commitment to the Prince of Persia franchise, promising more experiences in the future.