UBISOFT has slammed the brakes on six video games as part of a company “reset” that has already seen around 3,000 jobs axed.
The French gaming giant, behind blockbuster hits like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry and Just Dance, confirmed it has cancelled projects, shut studios and delayed titles in a sweeping shake-up of its business.
Boss Yves Guillemot said the painful moves were needed to steady the ship and “create the conditions for a return to sustainable growth” after a tough few years for the firm.
But investors weren’t convinced, with Ubisoft shares plunging a staggering 33 per cent on Thursday morning following the bombshell announcement.
The headline casualty is the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake, a reworking of the beloved 2003 classic that sold millions and has been stuck in development hell for years.
That decision has left fans stunned, especially at a time when remakes and remasters are booming, with refreshed versions of games like Super Mario Galaxy, Oblivion and Metal Gear Solid 3 proving huge hits in 2025.
GAME OVER
Full list of 14 games suddenly removed from Steam with NO explanation
BETTER TOGETHER
The subscription hacks that save you £100s a year by combining bills
Ubisoft has refused to name the other cancelled titles, but confirmed they include four unannounced games – three based on brand-new ideas – as well as a mobile release.
Two studios have also been shut down entirely, with Ubisoft closing its Stockholm base in Sweden and its Halifax studio in Canada.
The teams were working on a new intellectual property and mobile Assassin’s Creed projects, with the Halifax closure coming just weeks after staff there formed a union.
Guillemot admitted the decisions were “difficult” but insisted they were essential to build a leaner, more efficient company for the long term.
He said the measures marked a “decisive turning point” as Ubisoft confronts challenges head-on in a brutally competitive games market.
Industry analyst Piers Harding-Rolls said the move shows Ubisoft is retreating to safer ground by backing established franchises rather than gambling on risky new ideas.
“It’s less risky to invest in existing giants like Assassin’s Creed and Rainbow Six than launch entirely new IPs,” he said, pointing to soaring development costs.
The reset follows earlier cuts, after Ubisoft axed 185 jobs across Europe in 2025 and shut its Leamington office while restructuring in Newcastle.
Looking ahead, Ubisoft will double down on open-world adventures and live-service games, with its Tencent-backed Vantage Studios tasked with turning Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry and Rainbow Six into “annual billionaire brands.”
Ubisoft has been approached for comment.
