Ubisoft Delays More Major Titles, But Are Developers Safe?
Delaying the release of Assassin's Creed: Shadows proved advantageous for Ubisoft, leading its CEO to contemplate delaying additional projects, aiming to save an additional 100 million euros in the process.
Ubisoft's 2025 release Assassin's Creed Shadows saw a delay and managed to become the second-highest Assassin's Creed seller (on day one) in the company's history. CEO Yves Guillemot, pleased with the sales, announced that the company will be delaying some of its mainline titles moving forward.
In an investor call (thanks, Eurogamer), Guillemot revealed that the delay in Assassin's Creed Shadows, which he calls a "good decision to deliver a really strong quality", would be mirrored in some of its other top brands. "After a review of our pipeline, we have decided to provide additional development time to some of our biggest productions in order to create the best conditions for success."
Guillemot hinted that 2026, '27, and '28 will be big years for Ubisoft, implying a relatively quiet 2025. But are Ubisoft's developers allowed to breathe a sigh of relief, free from layoffs for cost-cutting? The cynic in me doubts it.
Guillemot boasted that Ubisoft managed to save €200 million last year and has pledged to save another €100 million. "We also completed our initial cost savings program ahead of schedule. We are committed to going further, with additional savings of at least €100m over the next two years to drive structural efficiencies and reinforce the foundations of our organization."
In a cutthroat industry, I find it hard to believe that this would be the end of Ubisoft's shareholder-mandated march towards cut costs and infinite growth, while developers pay the bill. The two years of "cost savings" have already resulted in over 700 layoffs and the closure of entire teams since 2023. Here's hoping I'm wrong.
As for what titles are being delayed, that information has yet to be disclosed. For now, I'll hold onto my nugget of hope and believe against belief that Ubisoft is merely being sensible in taking its time.
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Harvey RandallHarvey's love for gaming started at the tender age of 12, when he begged his parents for a World of Warcraft subscription. Since then, he's been cursed with a Final Fantasy 14-brain and a huge crush on G'raha Tia. Prior to joining PC Gamer, Harvey freelanced for Techradar, The Escapist, Dicebreaker, The Gamer, and Into the Spine. He's game for anything interesting, with a particular fondness for RPGs, soulslikes, roguelikes, deckbuilders, MMOs, and quirky indie titles. In his downtime, you can find him lost in various TTRPGs. He's still struggling to pick a favorite gaming system.
Enrichment Data:
Overall:
Ubisoft has continued to implement cost-cutting measures, having achieved their initial target of €200 million in savings ahead of schedule. The company plans to save another €100 million by FY2026-27 to enhance structural efficiencies.
Potential Layoffs:
Since 2023, Ubisoft has undergone layoffs affecting over 700 employees and the closure of entire teams. The company's employee count remains high at 17,782 people.
Impact of Assassin's Creed Shadows:
The success of Assassin's Creed Shadows was a positive factor for Ubisoft but did not offset the broader financial challenges faced by the company, necessitating further cost-cutting efforts.
Future Plans:
Ubisoft plans to announce additional details by the end of 2025, including spin-offs and continued cost-cutting efforts.
Developers may not find relief as Ubisoft aims to save an additional €100 million by fiscal years 2026-2027, following an initial €200 million saved in 2024. This continued cost-cutting effort, which has already led to over 700 layoffs and the closure of entire teams, could impact the upcoming season of Ubisoft games. Withlayoffs and restructuring, Ubisoft's developers will be under pressure to release high-quality games such as the much-anticipated Assassin's Creed Shadows, which experienced a delay to ensure high quality.
