One of the giant names in the gaming world, Ubisoft, shared the bad news. The company delayed the long-awaited pirate-themed game Skull and Bones for the sixth time. It was also announced that three separate games in development were canceled.
It seems like things aren’t quite right at Ubisoft. After canceling four games last summer, the publisher has canceled three more. Not only that, the company has announced yet another delay for Skull and Bones, which first appeared in 2017.
Time Stretched to 2024 for Skull And Bones
Skull & Bones has been delayed a total of 6 times since it was first announced. Previous information showed that the game would be released on March 9, 2023. However, this date was postponed with the new announcement to the end of 2023 and the first months of 2024 were pointed out for the game’s release. An exact date has not yet been set. The delays, according to the company, have made the game much better, and players will be pleased with it in the beta phase.
The three games in question were ones that had not yet been announced. According to Ubisoft’s statement, the reason behind the cancellation of these games was the “major challenges” in the industry and the worse performances of Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope and Just Dance 2023 than expected. Saying that they are facing challenges as “the industry continues to shift towards mega-brands and endless live games in the context of worsening economic conditions affecting consumer spending,” CEO Yves Guillemot said they expect a 10 percent reduction in consumer purchases over the year. Because of this, Ubisoft’s expected operating income dropped by about $1 billion this year.
Ubisoft is tightening its belt going forward and will focus less on games. In addition to the canceled games, the company also spent $538 million on research and development for upcoming premium and free-to-play games. Ubisoft also wants to cut costs by more than $215 million in the next two years. They say they will do this through a targeted restructuring process and by selling some assets.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage
Ubisoft Reminded Us That It Has Also Switched To A New Strategy
The company said that the industry is moving toward “mega-brands” and “long-term games,” and they said that their goal is to make big games that everyone can play. On the other hand, it was stated that the games for this target have not been published yet.
Besides Skull & Bones, perhaps the biggest game Ubisoft has for this year will be Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is also scheduled to arrive by the end of March 2024. Other unannounced premium titles are on the way for next fiscal year, including an unannounced “big game.”
SOURCE: Ubisoft’s Financial Statement
