Ubisoft Cancels 6 Projects Including Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake, Closes 2 Studios and Confirms Further Layoffs in Major Company Restructure

Ubisoft has announced a sweeping institution restructure that volition effect successful the cancelation of six games including its Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake, and a hold to a further 7 titles. Two Ubisoft studios volition beryllium closed wholly arsenic a effect of the changes, portion others volition beryllium taxable to further layoffs.

Of the fractional twelve games that person been afloat scrapped, Ubisoft is lone publically naming 1 contiguous — its long-awaited Sands of Time remake that was rebooted erstwhile already. Three of the canceled games were caller IPs, portion 1 was a mobile game. Ubisoft's halfway absorption going forward, the institution has said, volition beryllium connected open-world games and live-services.

No circumstantial item has been fixed of the 7 titles that Ubisoft has delayed, either, though this fig does see the unannounced crippled erstwhile acceptable for motorboat earlier March 31 that is wide expected to beryllium the company's Assassin's Creed: Black Flag remaster. This volition present motorboat successful the coming fiscal twelvemonth — truthful earlier March 31, 2027.

Ubisoft Stockholm volition afloat adjacent arsenic a effect of the changes, having antecedently collaborated connected Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, alongside mobile workplace Ubisoft Halifax (news of which archetypal broke past week). "Restructurings" person besides taken spot astatine Ubisoft offices successful Abu Dhabi, astatine Trials workplace RedLynx and astatine Massive, location to The Division. In addition, each teams volition beryllium required to instrumentality to in-office moving 5 days a week, albeit with an yearly allowance of remote-working days.

"We went done a thorough reappraisal of projects crossed December [and] January, with the existent marketplace improvement successful caput — which is consistently much selective," Ubisoft's main fiscal serviceman Frederick Duguet told IGN today. "You've seen the past 4th showing a never-before-seen level of competition. Competition is present to stay."

In a motion of however immense an interaction Ubisoft expects this restructure to have, arsenic good arsenic however severely it feels it is needed, the institution has scrapped its erstwhile guidance for the afloat fiscal twelvemonth and present expects nett bookings of astir €1.5 cardinal ($1.75 billion), down by €330 cardinal ($386 million).

Via a connection shared with IGN, Ubisoft said this immense simplification reflected changes to the company's upcoming merchandise pipeline pursuing the implementation of its updated improvement roadmap, and the determination to "postpone negations connected definite partnerships" successful the discourse of its caller operating model.

"Competition is present to stay..."“

Indeed, the shakeup comes arsenic Ubisoft yet lays retired however its planetary improvement mightiness is to beryllium divided into 5 "Creative Houses" that volition run arsenic autarkic concern units — the archetypal of which was elaborate past year. The previously-established Vantage Studios present encompasses the improvement of Ubisoft's 3 biggest brands (Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six) and soon the remaining divisions volition instrumentality connected themed groups that screen the company's remaining franchises.

Creative House 2 volition beryllium dedicated to shooters, and look aft The Division, Ghost Recon, and Splinter Cell. Creative House 3 volition absorption connected unrecorded experiences, including For Honor, The Crew, Riders Republic, Brawlhalla, and Skull & Bones.

Creative House 4 volition diagnostic communicative driven and fantasy-orientated bid including Anno, Might & Magic, Rayman, Prince of Persia, and Beyond Good & Evil (yes, seemingly Beyond Good & Evil 2 inactive lives). Finally, Creative House 5 volition halfway connected household and casual gaming, including Just Dance, Uno, Hasbro, Idle Miner Tycoon, Ketchapp, Hungry Shark, and Invincible: Guarding the Globe.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social