Ubisoft canceled three unannounced games and postponed Skull & Bones again. The French developer and publisher faces major challenges as the industry continues to focus on mega-brands and long-lived titles that can reach players around the world, across different platforms and business models, according to a statement. Apparently, the company has been trying to align its biggest games (Far Cry, Assassin’s Creed, The Division, etc.) with these trends, but sales of its major titles have been “significantly and surprisingly slower than expected.”
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope underperformed sales, as did Just Dance 2023. Skull & Bones has long struggled with delays, having started development in 2013. It should be released this March.
NEWS: Ubisoft, facing “surprisingly slower” sales, has canceled three unannounced games (on top of the four cancelled in July), planning $200 million in cost reduction including “natural attrition” and “divesting of non-core assets”
— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) January 11, 2023
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said:
“With the approval of the Board of Directors, we are making further important strategic and operational decisions today. It is vital that we continue to adapt our organisation, continue to strengthen our execution and ensure that we deliver both great games and great value to gamers. The long-term prospects for the industry remain bright and I am confident that Ubisoft is well positioned to capitalize on this momentum thanks to the strength of our teams, brands, manufacturing capabilities, technology and balance sheet.”
