Ubisoft Delays Assassin’s Creed Shadows Amidst Company Sale Considerations
Ubisoft has announced yet another delay for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, as the company considers options for a potential sale.
The eagerly awaited next installment in the Assassin’s Creed series will now be released on March 20. It was originally scheduled for February 14, after being postponed from November 2024.
Today, Ubisoft stated that it is currently “taking significant measures” to transform the organization and has engaged advisors to “evaluate and pursue various strategic and capital options to maximize value for stakeholders.” To put it simply, Ubisoft is indeed exploring avenues for a potential sale, as several reports suggested late last year. In December, news agency Reuters indicated that Ubisoft was in talks with Chinese powerhouse Tencent, already a major investor, about a buyout that could potentially take the company private.
Looking ahead, Ubisoft anticipates that it may “continue to implement significant cost reductions, alongside a selective approach to investments.” This hints at a further narrowing of the company’s focus, teams, and product offerings.
Ubisoft’s announcement references the recent confirmed cancellation of the shooter XDefiant in December, and the subsequent closure of three studios located in “high-cost regions.”
“We learned a lot from this experience,” Ubisoft remarked during a conference call this evening attended by Eurogamer, regarding the cancellation of XDefiant, “but we believe it was a difficult yet correct decision.”
Regarding investments, Ubisoft’s statement points to the additional five weeks allocated to Assassin’s Creed Shadows, allowing its developers extra time to implement further adjustments.
“This extra time will enable the team to better integrate player feedback collected over the past three months and ensure optimal conditions for launch by maintaining close engagement with the increasingly positive Assassin’s Creed community,” Ubisoft shared.
During this evening’s call, Ubisoft expressed that it may provide select gamers access to Shadows next week, though the indication was that this would pertain to limited hands-on opportunities for chosen participants.
Ubisoft also mentioned experiencing “lower than expected holiday sales, particularly for Star Wars Outlaws” and had adjusted financial forecasts due to the discontinuation of XDefiant.
“We have made significant progress on the strategic and operational reviews initiated a few months back and are confident this will position Ubisoft for a stronger future,” Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot stated in a press release. “We have taken decisive actions to transform the company to deliver best-in-class player experiences, enhance operational efficiency, and maximize value creation. Additionally, we have recently engaged leading advisors and are actively exploring various strategic and capital options to unlock the full value of our assets. We are optimistic about the many potential avenues to generate value from Ubisoft’s properties and franchises.
“Moreover, we fully support our teams’ commitment to crafting the most ambitious chapter of the Assassin’s Creed franchise and made the choice to extend development time for Shadows to ensure better incorporation of player feedback gathered over the past three months, enabling us to fully achieve our goals.