Ubisoft cancels 6 games including Prince of Persia, closes 2 studios

Ubisoft cancels games in a shocking overhaul that reshapes the entire company. Today, the publisher revealed 6 projects axed, including the long-awaited Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake. Two studios are shutting down immediately and 7 additional games face major delays.

Prince of Persia Sands of Time Remake Among Major Casualties

Ubisoft’s highly anticipated Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake is dead. The studio cancelled the project after it failed to meet enhanced quality expectations. This marks the end of years of development and multiple restarts the studio attempted.

Of the six total cancellations, only the Prince of Persia remake was publicly named. Three additional projects were new, unannounced franchises, while one was a mobile game. Ubisoft says the cancelled titles simply didn’t align with its new strategic focus on open-world adventures and live-service experiences.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag and Seven Other Delays Confirmed

Beyond the cancellations, 7 major titles now face delays, all receiving extended development time to meet enhanced quality standards. The most significant delay involves Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Remaster, previously scheduled for release before March 31, 2026.

This beloved pirate-themed remake will now launch during the fiscal year 2027 window, pushing it back over a year. The company withheld details on the other 6 delayed projects, but confirmed one was originally planned for release this fiscal quarter.

Ubisoft’s Major Reset: Five Creative Houses and Unprecedented Changes

Creative House	Focus	Brands Included
Vantage Studios	Flagship franchises	Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Rainbow Six
Creative House 2	Competitive shooters	The Division, Ghost Recon, Splinter Cell
Creative House 3	Live experiences	For Honor, The Crew, Skull & Bones
Creative House 4	Fantasy and narrative	Prince of Persia, Rayman, Beyond Good & Evil
Creative House 5	Family casual games	Just Dance, UNO, Hasbro titles

CEO Yves Guillemot described this restructuring as a radical transformation designed to reclaim creative leadership. Each Creative House operates as an independent business unit with full financial accountability and dedicated leadership. The company expects this decentralized model to accelerate decision-making and improve game quality across all segments.

“Competition is here to stay. When you are coming in number one, number two, with great content quality in a given segment, then you can have a very strong reward.”

— Frederick Duguet, Ubisoft CFO

Studio Shutdowns and Massive Financial Restructuring Underway

Ubisoft Stockholm and Ubisoft Halifax are closing permanently effective immediately. Halifax, a mobile studio, employed 71 workers and had just unionized last week before the announcement. Stockholm previously collaborated on Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.

The company targets €200 million in additional cost reductions over the next two years, completing by 2028. When combined with previous cuts, this will reduce fixed costs by €500 million compared to 2023 levels. All remaining staff must return to five days per week in-office, though annual work-from-home allowances will apply.

What Does This Mean for Gamers Awaiting These Titles?

Industry observers see this as necessary but painful for players invested in these franchises. The Prince of Persia cancellation stings most, representing years of false starts and reboots. Beyond Good and Evil fans gained hope, as the mysterious sequel survives under Creative House 4, though no timeline exists.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Remaster fans gained nearly twelve months. Whether this extra time produces a masterpiece or simply delays inevitable mediocrity remains unclear. What’s certain is Ubisoft’s market transformation signals the gaming industry faces persistent pressure to deliver premium experiences or face existential consequences.

Sources

• IGN – Comprehensive coverage of game cancellations, studio closures and financial impact
• Video Games Chronicle – Detailed breakdown of five Creative Houses and organizational restructuring
• GamesIndustry.biz – Financial analysis and executive interviews about cost reduction goals