Ubisoft Cancels Prince of Persia Remake and Five Other Games in Strategic Overhaul
In a significant strategic shift, video game publisher Ubisoft has announced the cancellation of six games currently in development, including the highly anticipated remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. This decision comes as part of a broader organisational restructuring aimed at refocusing the company's efforts on open-world and live-service games, supported by new technology and targeted investments.
Market Pressures Drive Restructuring
Ubisoft recently briefed the media on what it described as a wide-ranging reset of its organisation, operations, and future game development focus. The company cited several factors influencing these decisions:
- The AAA games market has become more selective and expensive
- Intense competition in popular genres like shooters
- Rising development costs making new brand launches challenging
- A string of underperforming recent releases
These market realities have prompted Ubisoft to implement what it calls a "creative house" structure, consisting of five creative groups that will each focus on specific franchises and genres. This new organisational model is designed to help the company make decisions faster and concentrate on its core strengths.
The Sands of Time Remake's Troubled Journey
The cancellation of the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake marks the end of a particularly troubled development cycle. The project was first revealed in 2020 with an initial release planned for 2021, but faced numerous setbacks over the past five years.
- Development was originally handled by Ubisoft's studios in India
- After delays and criticism, the project moved to Ubisoft Montreal in 2022
- The remake reappeared last year with a tentative 2026 release window
- As recently as mid-2025, Ubisoft had confirmed the project was still moving forward
Despite these efforts, the company has now determined that the game no longer meets its revised quality standards and portfolio priorities.
Additional Cancellations and Delays
Beyond the Prince of Persia remake, Ubisoft has cancelled four unannounced projects, including:
- Three new intellectual properties
- One mobile game
The publisher has also confirmed delays for seven other unannounced titles to allow more development time and polish. One of these delays pushes a game originally planned for the 2026 financial year into 2027. While specific titles haven't been confirmed, industry rumours suggest an Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag remake might be among the delayed projects.
Broader Organisational Changes
This restructuring represents the latest in a series of challenging developments for Ubisoft. The company has experienced poor performances from several recent major releases and has undertaken multiple organisational changes over the past year, including:
- Reorganisation of several studios
- Establishment of the Vantage Studios division to manage key intellectual properties
- Confirmation of studio closures with potential job losses
The new creative house structure is expected to begin implementation in early April, with Ubisoft aiming to develop fewer, higher-quality games that can better compete in today's rapidly evolving gaming industry.
This strategic pivot reflects the growing challenges facing traditional game publishers as development costs rise and player expectations continue to evolve in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
