Ubisoft’s "Major Reset" is a Total Bloodbath: 6 Games Canned and Studios Gutted
Ubisoft just detonated a nuclear bomb on its own production pipeline, and the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake is officially among the casualties.
I have seen some desperate moves from triple-A publishers, but this "major reset" from Ubisoft is on an entirely different level. After years of watching their stock price sink like a lead weight and their big releases fail to ignite, the French giant is finally pulling the emergency brake. They are calling it a strategic refocus to "reclaim creative leadership," but let's be real. It is a purge. Six games are gone, seven are delayed, and two studios have been wiped off the map. It is the kind of move you make when you realize your house is on fire and you can only save a few pieces of furniture.
The Five "Creative Houses" and the End of an Era
Ubisoft is splitting itself into five separate "creative houses," each focusing on a specific genre. It is a radical decentralization that they hope will make them faster and better at making hits. I am personally skeptical that adding more layers of management is the fix for "creative leadership," but that is the path they have chosen.
Vantage Studios (CH1): The heavy hitters. Part-owned by Tencent, they are taking over the massive brands: Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six.
CH2: The shooter specialists. They are handling The Division, Ghost Recon, and the perpetually missing-in-action Splinter Cell.
CH3: The "Live Service" hub. This is where Skull & Bones, The Crew, and For Honor go to live or die.
CH4: Fantasy and narrative. Think Anno, Rayman, and Beyond Good & Evil.
CH5: Casual and family. The Just Dance and Uno factory.
Prince of Persia is Dead (Again) and Black Flag is Sinking
The most high-profile victim of this purge is the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake. It has been stuck in development hell for years, and Ubisoft finally decided to put it out of its misery. Along with it, four unannounced games—including three new IPs—have been axed because they didn't meet "enhanced quality expectations."
It gets worse if you were looking forward to the Assassin's Creed: Black Flag remake. According to Tom Henderson, the game was actually supposed to launch on March 19th as a digital-only release. It was basically finished and set to go gold in February. Now, thanks to this massive pivot, it has likely been delayed by up to a year. DICE might have their own problems, but Ubisoft just told its fans that their most anticipated remake is being sent back to the oven for no reason other than corporate restructuring.
The Human Cost and the €200 Million Cut
While the suits are talking about "sustainable growth," the reality on the ground is much darker. Ubisoft is looking to cut €200 million in fixed costs over the next two years. They have already closed their Halifax and Stockholm studios. While CFO Frederick Duguet tried to play down the layoffs by saying people would be "refocused," he also admitted that "some may leave the company." In corporate speak, that means a lot of people are about to lose their livelihoods because the higher-ups couldn't figure out how to launch a successful game in 2025.
The remaining staff are also being told to return to the office five days a week. It is a classic "hard reset" move that often leads to even more talent leaving the building. Ubisoft is betting everything on these five creative houses. If they don't start producing 10/10 hits immediately, there might not be enough "assets" left to sell off next time Tencent comes knocking.
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