Why Ubisoft cancelled Prince of Persia remake and multiple upcoming games

French video game giant Ubisoft has announced a sweeping restructuring plan aimed at regaining competitiveness in the global gaming market, confirming the cancellation of several projects, including the long-awaited Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake.

The announcement, made on Wednesday, triggered disappointment among fans across social media, especially over the shelving of the iconic 2000s classic, which had been in development for several years. Alongside it, Ubisoft has scrapped five more games, including four unannounced titles and one mobile project, while seven additional games have been delayed.

Why Ubisoft cancelled its games

Ubisoft said the decisions are part of a broader effort to streamline operations and reduce costs as it navigates slowing growth and intense competition in the gaming industry. The company expects these cuts and delays to contribute significantly to a projected €1 billion operating loss in the 2025–26 financial year.

As part of the overhaul, Ubisoft is closing studios in Stockholm and Halifax, Canada, and plans to reduce fixed costs by at least €100 million by March, one year ahead of schedule. It has also set a target to cut an additional €200 million over the next two years.

Like many major game publishers, Ubisoft has struggled with post-pandemic development disruptions, rising production costs, and delays in flagship releases. Recent high-profile titles such as Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and Star Wars Outlaws failed to meet expectations in a crowded gaming market.

Ubisoft’s new business model

Under the new structure, Ubisoft will operate through five ‘creative houses’, each focused on specific game genres and empowered with faster, decentralised decision-making. From April, these units will be supported by a global network of studios providing shared development resources and core services.