Ubisoft has announced plans to delay several of its upcoming major titles, taking lessons from the success of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The latest entry in the company’s flagship franchise received additional development time before its release, a strategy that appears to have paid off for the publisher despite its overall financial challenges. CEO Yves Guillemot has signaled that this approach will now be applied to other big-budget projects in development, pushing several unannounced games further into the future.
Ubisoft’s Financial Performance
The positive reception of Assassin’s Creed Shadows wasn’t enough to offset Ubisoft’s broader financial struggles. According to the company’s latest earnings report, Ubisoft recorded a net loss of €159 million, with revenues down 17.5% compared to the previous year.
Star Wars Outlaws, released in August 2024, significantly underperformed despite its massive development budget and extensive marketing campaign. The title quickly became a central factor in Ubisoft’s recent financial decline, raising concerns among shareholders who began considering potential buyouts.
Adding to these woes, the live service shooter XDefiant, which launched in May last year, failed to gain traction. Just seven months after its release, rumors of its closure began circulating, and Ubisoft has now confirmed that the game will shut down in June of this year.
Addressing these issues, Guillemot acknowledged in the company’s financial briefing: “This year has been a challenging one for Ubisoft, with mixed dynamics across our portfolio, amid intense industry competition.”
Assassin’s Creed Shadows as a Bright Spot
Amid these financial challenges, Assassin’s Creed Shadows stands out as a notable success for Ubisoft. The game was delayed several times during its development cycle, a decision that appears to have significantly improved both its quality and market reception. Guillemot called the release “a defining moment” that “reaffirmed the power of the Assassin’s Creed brand, with a highly favorable community response from long-time fans and new players alike.”
The positive reception of Shadows has prompted Ubisoft to reconsider its approach to game development timelines. Guillemot pointed to the game’s delay as a “good decision” that allowed the company to “deliver a really strong quality” product, setting a new standard for future releases.
Ubisoft’s Strategy Shift As The Company Delays Future Releases
Following this success, Ubisoft has conducted what it calls a “thorough review of its pipeline” from October to December, resulting in a significant shift in release strategy. “We have decided to provide additional development time to some of our biggest productions in order to create the best conditions for success,” Guillemot stated.
As a result, several major unannounced titles will now launch after the current financial year ending March 31, 2026. These games are expected to release between April 1, 2026, and March 31, 2028. According to Guillemot, “FY2026-27 and FY2027-28 will see significant content coming from our largest brands.”
While Ubisoft hasn’t officially named the affected titles, the delays are expected to impact games from its biggest franchises including Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Rainbow Six, The Division, and Ghost Recon. Specific projects likely affected include Assassin’s Creed Codename Hexe, Assassin’s Creed Jade, The Division Resurgence, and the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake.
Future Assassin’s Creed Plans
With Assassin’s Creed remaining Ubisoft’s most reliable franchise, the company appears to be doubling down on its flagship series. Reports suggest Ubisoft is planning approximately six years’ worth of Assassin’s Creed content, featuring a diverse mix of offerings including more open world RPGs similar to Shadows, full remakes of classic titles, and new multiplayer experiences.
The success of Shadows has added momentum to this strategy, reinforcing the company’s belief in the long-term viability of the Assassin’s Creed brand. As Ubisoft struggles with other properties, Assassin’s Creed stands as the obvious solution to its financial woes, alongside other established franchises such as Far Cry, Rainbow Six, and potentially a return of Splinter Cell.
This focus on established franchises reflects Ubisoft’s need to rely on proven intellectual properties during a period of financial uncertainty. The additional development time now being granted to these projects suggests the company is prioritizing quality in hopes of replicating the positive reception of Shadows.
Organizational Changes
Beyond adjusting development timelines, Ubisoft is making significant organizational changes to address its financial challenges. Earlier this year, the company announced the creation of a new subsidiary that will handle the development of Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six games. This new entity will pay royalties to the main Ubisoft company, which will continue to hold all intellectual property rights.
In a major financial development, Chinese gaming giant Tencent has acquired a 25% stake in this new development company, investing €1.16 billion. This partnership represents a significant vote of confidence in Ubisoft’s core franchises despite the company’s recent struggles.
Guillemot has also emphasized that Ubisoft completed its strict cost-cutting program ahead of schedule but plans to implement additional savings over the next two years. This ongoing focus on reducing expenses suggests that concerns about potential layoffs will continue to affect Ubisoft employees in the near future.
Final Thoughts
Ubisoft finds itself at a critical juncture, with Assassin’s Creed Shadows providing a template for future success amid broader financial challenges. The decision to delay upcoming major releases reflects a strategic pivot toward quality over rigid release schedules, as the company attempts to replicate the positive reception of Shadows across its portfolio.
With significant investments from Tencent, a restructured development approach, and a renewed focus on its strongest franchises, Ubisoft is attempting to chart a path back to profitability. The next two fiscal years will be crucial as the company delivers what it promises will be “significant content” from its largest brands.
The success of this strategy remains to be seen, but the lessons learned from Assassin’s Creed Shadows suggest that allowing adequate development time may be key to creating games that satisfy both longtime fans and new players. As Ubisoft navigates this challenging period, its willingness to delay releases in pursuit of quality may prove to be its most important decision.
Key Takeaways
- Ubisoft reported a net loss of €159 million with revenues down 17.5% year-on-year
- Assassin’s Creed Shadows succeeded after receiving additional development time
- Star Wars Outlaws and XDefiant performed poorly, contributing to financial losses
- Ubisoft is delaying multiple unannounced major titles to FY2026-27 and FY2027-28
- Affected franchises likely include Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Rainbow Six, The Division, and Ghost Recon
- Six years of Assassin’s Creed content is reportedly planned, including RPGs and remakes
- Tencent has invested €1.16 billion for a 25% stake in a new Ubisoft development subsidiary
- Cost-cutting measures continue, raising concerns about potential future layoffs
- Ubisoft is betting on established franchises and longer development cycles to recover financially