Ubisoft Cancels 5 Games, Including Prince of Persia Remake

Gaming giant's restructuring signals broader industry shifts towards safer bets and less experimentation

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

Ubisoft has announced the cancellation of six games, including the highly anticipated Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake, as part of a broader restructuring into five genre-focused 'Creative Houses'. The move reflects mounting pressures from commercial underperformance and rising development costs, raising questions about the future of game development and publishing.

Why it matters

The cancellation of the Prince of Persia remake highlights the growing risks associated with revisiting classic titles, as nostalgia alone is not enough to guarantee success. Ubisoft's decision to shelve multiplayer-focused projects like 'Project Pathfinder' and 'Project Crest' also suggests a cautious approach to emerging genres like extraction shooters. Additionally, the closure of smaller studios and the discontinuation of support for mobile titles point to a shift towards prioritizing core franchises and genre-focused development, potentially limiting opportunities for innovation.

The details

Ubisoft acknowledged they were unable to reach the level of quality fans deserved for the Prince of Persia remake, a critical factor in today's discerning gaming market. The cancellation of projects like 'Project Pathfinder' and 'Project Crest' reveals Ubisoft's concerns about long-term engagement and the challenges of balancing extraction shooter gameplay loops. The closure of Ubisoft Halifax and Stockholm, along with the cancellation of Project Aether, underscores the vulnerability of smaller studios within larger organizations as the company prioritizes core franchises and genre-focused development.

  • Ubisoft announced the cancellations on February 16, 2026.
  • The Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake was originally announced in 2020.

The players

Ubisoft

A major French video game company and one of the largest third-party publishers in the world.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

Ubisoft's restructuring and game cancellations reflect broader industry trends towards safer bets, less experimentation, and a greater focus on core franchises and genre-specific development. This shift raises concerns about the future of innovation and the emergence of groundbreaking new games in the gaming industry.