Ubisoft shuts down Prince of Persia remake, 5 others as it resets its business

• Six other Ubisoft games were cancelled
• Two studios closed
• Shares drop sharply after the announcement

Ubisoft has cancelled six games, including the long-awaited Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake, in a sweeping reset that signals how tough things have become for big game studios.

The French publisher announced it will close two studios in Sweden and Canada. It is also delaying or changing the plans for several other projects. The company stated these changes are to help it become more stable and focused after experiencing some challenging years.

CEO Yves Guillemot called the decision painful but necessary, explaining that Ubisoft is focusing its strategy to better compete in an industry with rising costs and increasing competition for player attention.

When nostalgia isn’t enough anymore

The Prince of Persia remake was supposed to revive one of Ubisoft’s most loved franchises. The original 2003 game helped define modern action-adventure titles and built a loyal fanbase that had been waiting years for its return. So, cancelling it outright has caught many players off guard.

But this decision reflects a bigger reality in gaming right now. New games are taking longer to make, costing more money, and facing higher chances of failure. In response, publishers are leaning into familiar franchises instead of taking risks on new ideas.

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That’s exactly what Ubisoft is doing. Rather than betting on untested projects, the company is choosing to double down on proven names like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six games, which it believes can keep generating steady revenue over time.

The market reacted quickly. Ubisoft’s shares dropped sharply after the announcement, suggesting investors are nervous about both the cancellations and the broader health of the business.

What this means for developers at Ubisoft and players

The closing of studios in Stockholm and Halifax will result in more job losses in an industry that is already dealing with layoffs and project cancellations. Several teams working on mobile and new projects are affected, increasing the overall instability in the industry.

Going forward, Ubisoft says it wants to focus on:

• Large open-world games
• Live-service titles with regular updates
• Expanding existing franchises instead of launching new ones

For players, the biggest impact is immediate: some long-awaited games are simply gone, with no replacements announced. For developers, it’s another reminder that even established studios are no longer immune to sudden project cuts.

Ubisoft says this reset is about survival in a tougher market. Whether it leads to stability or a future with fewer bold ideas is the real question.

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