The cancelled Prince of Persia remake, initially announced in 2020, was supposed to be a slam dunk, a return to form for a franchise that once ruled the platforming world like Michael Jordan in the '90s. "This decision wasn't taken lightly," said Ubisoft CFO Frederick Duguet in an investor call, acknowledging the disappointment felt by fans who were eagerly anticipating the game's release. "We are re-allocating resources to focus on our biggest opportunities."
The other five titles facing the axe remain shrouded in mystery, with Ubisoft keeping their cards close to their chest, a move that's drawn criticism from industry insiders. "Transparency is key in these situations," commented Geoff Keighley, host of Summer Game Fest, on Twitter. "Gamers deserve to know what's happening behind the scenes."
The studio closures, while not explicitly detailed, are rumored to be impacting teams in Europe, a strategic timeout that mirrors Activision Blizzard's restructuring in 2019, which saw hundreds of employees reassigned or laid off. Ubisoft's stock price took a noticeable dip following the announcement, dropping by nearly 5%, a fumble that puts pressure on the company to deliver strong performances from its remaining franchises, including Assassin's Creed and Far Cry.
This isn't the first time Ubisoft has faced tough decisions. Back in 2014, Watch Dogs, a highly anticipated open-world title, suffered a controversial downgrade in graphics quality before launch, leading to fan backlash and a missed opportunity to capitalize on the hype. The current situation, however, feels different, a more calculated move to consolidate resources and focus on proven winners.
Looking ahead, Ubisoft is banking on the upcoming Assassin's Creed Mirage to be a game-changer, a Hail Mary pass that could redeem their recent setbacks. The company is also doubling down on live service games, a strategy that has proven successful for competitors like Epic Games with Fortnite. Whether these moves will be enough to turn the tide remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Ubisoft is playing for keeps.
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