While Microsoft intends to start the year in style with a Developer Direct which promises a lot, the atmosphere is much more gloomy at Ubisoft. The French publisher is encountering great difficulties after a year 2022 marked by several unexpected failures. To avoid going out of business, the publisher of cult video game series like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry and Prince of Persia has to revise its schedule and say goodbye to some projects.
2022, a difficult year
The last twelve months have not been favorable to Ubisoft. By the end of the first half of the fiscal year, the French publisher had announced losses amounting to 190 million dollars in its balance sheet. This negative result then forced him to cancel the launch of four major video games, including a virtual reality version of Splinter Cell. The second half, still in progress since the fiscal year ends on March 31, is no better.
In a press release, the CEO of Ubisoft, Yves Guillemot, announces sales below estimates, especially during the Christmas period and at the beginning of January. “We are clearly disappointed with our recent performance” he explains in the post. He mainly mentions video games that did not work while Ubisoft was partly counting on them to boost its sales. These are Just Dance 2023 and Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope.
Skull and Bones is postponed
Again, this poor performance will have significant impacts on the publisher’s activities for the months to come. As a first step, Ubisoft intends to postpone the release date of one of its flagship titles this year, namely Skull and Bones. The title was to be released at the beginning of next March. Finally, it will arrive in the hands of the players during the first quarter of the next fiscal year, that is to say between the months of April and June.
This postponement of the release date of Skull and Bones does not really surprise gamers who are waiting for the video game. Announced for almost 6 years, the title had been postponed five times in the past. A sixth postponement can no longer do much harm. On the contrary, it would allow the developers to finish the video game well so as to guarantee it a better success at its launch. Ubisoft can no longer afford a single mistake.
Three video games canceled
In a second step, the publisher will proceed to the cancellation of certain projects in progress. Three titles, whose names are kept secret, are concerned. But this is an open secret. The insider Tom Henderson, often very well informed, has already unveiled some of these canceled video games at Ubisoft. He notably evokes the famous Project Q which was unveiled in May 2022. Finally, Ubisoft will not produce this hybrid between Overwatch et Fortnite.
Roller Champion, a mix between Roller Derby and Rocket League, would not see the light of day either. The project is not really buried, but will be put on hold while waiting to find a better concept. Of course, Ubisoft will work hard in the coming months to recover. The publisher intends to exploit well-established franchises such as Assassin’s Creed by favoring live services that bring in money in a more sustainable way. To be continued!!!