Ubisoft announced a major internal restructuring that includes the cancellation of six projects, among them the highly anticipated remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
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Ubisoft confirmed one of the most important restructurings in its recent history, with the goal of reversing several years of results below expectations and a sharp drop in its market value. The plan, presented by CEO Yves Guillemot, includes the cancellation of six video games, the delay of another seven titles, the closure of studios, and a complete redefinition of its creative and operational model.
The decision has a full impact on the gaming community, since among the canceled projects is the remake of Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, originally announced in 2020 and postponed on repeated occasions.
A strategic "reset" to regain creative leadership
According to Guillemot, Ubisoft needs a deep "reset" in order to once again position itself as a creative and financial benchmark within the AAA industry. The company has gone through a series of releases with mixed receptions in recent years, which has affected both its revenue and the confidence of investors and players.
Prince of Persia: Sands of Time fue cancelado tras la reorganización de Ubisoft
As part of this change, Ubisoft reorganized its internal structure into five major creative areas. These units range from large-scale franchises such as Assassin’s Creed and Rainbow Six, to offerings aimed at a family audience, such as Just Dance and Uno. Each division will be responsible not only for creative development, but also for the commercial performance of its titles.
The cancellation of Prince of Persia and cost cutting
Among the six canceled projects is the remake of Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, a title that had caused high expectations but never managed to consolidate a clear direction. Ubisoft justified the decision based on the adoption of stricter quality criteria and on the need to reduce a portfolio that it considered oversized.
These cancellations are complemented by the closure of the Halifax and Stockholm studios, measures aimed at cutting approximately 215 million dollars in fixed costs over the next two years. The company acknowledged that the human impact is significant, since it affects hundreds of employees.
Delays, new IP, and changes in the portfolio
In addition to the cancellations, Ubisoft confirmed the delay of seven games, although it avoided specifying which titles are affected. These postponements fall within a new policy that prioritizes quality over rigid schedules, with the intention of maximizing the value of each release in the long term.
Prince of Persia: Sands of Time fue cancelado tras la reorganización de Ubisoft
In parallel, the company announced the development of four new intellectual properties. Among them, March of Giants stands out, a MOBA recently acquired that will be assigned to one of the new creative divisions. Ubisoft is confident that this more disciplined approach will allow it to strengthen its presence in key genres such as open worlds and games as a service.
Financial impact and consequences for players
From a financial standpoint, Ubisoft anticipates a revenue drop of around 355 million dollars in the next fiscal year, although it keeps reserves estimated between 1.6 and 1.7 billion dollars. The company keeps that a smaller portfolio, focused on quality, will allow for sustainable growth in the medium and long term.
For players, the impact is direct: the definitive loss of highly anticipated projects, such as Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, and longer waiting times for new installments of emblematic franchises. The move reflects an increasingly demanding AAA market, where even major publishers are forced to concentrate resources and discard projects with a low margin of success.
