On January 21, 2026, Ubisoft officially announced a “major organizational, operational, and portfolio reset” aimed at reclaiming its position in an increasingly competitive AAA market. As part of this drastic restructuring, the company has canceled six games currently in development. The most high-profile casualty is the long-troubled Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake, which had been in various stages of development since 2020. The other canceled projects include four unannounced titles, three of which were new IPs and one mobile game, while the identity of the sixth game remains undisclosed.
Quality Over Quantity
The decision to pull the plug on these projects stems from a thorough review of Ubisoft’s content pipeline. According to CEO Yves Guillemot, the canceled games did not meet the “new enhanced quality benchmarks” or the “selective portfolio prioritization criteria” required for the company’s future growth. Ubisoft is now centering its strategy on two core pillars: Open World Adventures and “Games as a Service” (GaaS) experiences. By discontinuing projects that fell short of these standards, the publisher intends to focus its resources on its most promising annual “billionaire brands” like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six.
New “Creative Houses” and Delays
To streamline its operations, Ubisoft is reorganizing its global development teams into five decentralized “Creative Houses.” Each house will function as an independent business unit with full responsibility for its respective brands and financial performance.
- CH1 (Vantage Studios): Flagship franchises (Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Rainbow Six).
- CH2: Competitive and cooperative shooters (The Division, Ghost Recon, Splinter Cell).
- CH3: Live service experiences (The Crew, For Honor, Skull & Bones).
- CH4: Immersive fantasy and narrative worlds (Anno, Rayman, Beyond Good & Evil).
- CH5: Casual and family-friendly games (Just Dance, Hungry Shark, Hasbro).
In addition to the cancellations, seven games have been delayed to allow for further polishing. While these titles were not named, industry analysts and reports from VGC and Bloomberg suggest that the long-rumored Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag remake is among those pushed into the 2027 fiscal year.
Studio Closures and Return to Office
The reset also includes painful physical changes to the company’s structure. Ubisoft has confirmed the closure of its Stockholm and Halifax studios, alongside further “restructurings” and layoffs at Massive Entertainment, Ubisoft Abu Dhabi, and RedLynx. Furthermore, Ubisoft has implemented a mandatory five-day in-office work week for all remaining staff to “boost development performance,” a move that has already sparked internal friction and debate within the industry.
